Han Ziliang,Lai Yongli,Yu Dongsheng,Lin Wuhong,Yao Ping,Liu Min,Chen Min,Lyu Dongsheng,Relationship between default mode network functional connectivity and clinical symptoms in patients with first-episode major depressive disorder[J].SICHUAN MENTAL HEALTH,2025,(5):398-404

Relationship between default mode network functional connectivity and clinical symptoms in patients with first-episode major depressive disorder

DOI：10.11886/scjsws20250626001

English keywords:First-episode major depressive disorder Magnetic resonance imaging Default mode network Functional connectivity

Fund projects:2019年度内蒙古自治区自然科学基金项目（项目名称：首发抑郁症患者全病程管理模式的疗效研究，项目编号：2019MS03038）；2023年度内蒙古自治区自然科学基金项目（项目名称：SSRIs治疗首发抑郁症反刍思维与默认网络变化的研究，项目编号：2023MS08028）

Author Name	Affiliation	Postcode
Han Ziliang	Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center, The Third Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Brain Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010010, China	010010
Lai Yongli	Baotou Sixth Hospital, Baotou 014000, China	014000
Yu Dongsheng	Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Huhhot 010010, China	010010
Lin Wuhong	Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center, The Third Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Brain Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010010, China	010010
Yao Ping	Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center, The Third Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Brain Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010010, China	010010
Liu Min	Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center, The Third Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Brain Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010010, China	010010
Chen Min	Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center, The Third Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Brain Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010010, China	010010
Lyu Dongsheng^*	Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center, The Third Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Brain Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010010, China	010010

Hits:

Download times:

English abstract:

Background The functional changes of the default mode network （DMN） are closely related to the onset of major depressive disorders. However， the relationship between the DMN subsystem （core subsystem， dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem， medial temporal lobe subsystem） and symptoms of first-episode major depressive disorder remains unclear.Objective To investigate abnormal functional connectivity between DMN subsystems and the whole brain in first-episode major depressive disorder patients during the resting-state， and to analyse the correlations between these functional connectivity patterns and clinical symptoms， so as to reveal the potential neural mechanisms from the perspective of DMN subsystem.Methods From September 2020 to September 2023， a total of 64 first-episode outpatients and inpatients meeting the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fourth edition （DSM-IV） were enrolled at the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center as the study group. During the same period， 54 healthy volunteers matched for age， gender， and years of education were recruited from the community as the control group. Both groups were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale-24 item （HAMD-24）. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance images （rs-fMRI） of the two groups were acquired using a Siemens 3.0 T scanner， and differences in functional connectivity between DMN subsystems （core subsystem， dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem， medial temporal lobe subsystem） and the whole brain were compared. The functional connectivity values of brain regions with statistically significant differences between the two groups were extracted. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis was used to investigate the correlation between these functional connectivity values and HAMD-24 scores of the study group.Results Ultimately， 46 patients and 43 controls completed the study. Compared with the control group， the study group exhibited significantly stronger functional connectivity in the following pathways： between the right superior parietal lobule （core subsystem） and right cerebellar lobule VIII （t=3.954， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）， between the right lateral temporal cortex （dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem） and right cerebellar lobule VIII， right and left hippocampi， right medial， and paracingulate gyrus （t=4.595， 4.208， 5.200， 4.038， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）， and between the temporoparietal junction （dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem） and left lingual gyrus and right cerebellar lobule VIII （t=3.557， 4.274， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）. Conversely， weaker functional connectivity was observed between the right inferior frontal gyrus and left gyrus rectus （t=-3.824， P<0.05， GRF-corrected）. Furthermore， within the study group， the functional connectivity values between the right lateral temporal cortex and right hippocampus， as well as between the temporoparietal junction and right cerebellar lobule VIII， were both negatively correlated with the HAMD-24 cognitive impairment factor score （r=-0.306， -0.318， P<0.05）.Conclusion Increased functional connectivity between the DMN （specifically its core and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystems） and cerebellum， partial limbic system， and lingual gyrus may be associated with the neuropathology of first-episode major depressive disorder. Furthermore， alterations in functional connectivity between the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex subsystem and both the cerebellum and hippocampus in these patients may be related to cognitive function. ［Funded by 2019 Annual Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation Project （number， 2019MS03038）； 2023 Annual Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation Project （number， 2023MS08028）］

View Full Text View/Add Comment Download reader