The dark and gloomy brain: grey matter volume alterations in major depressive disorder – fine-grained meta-analyses

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects about 280 million people worldwide and has been recognized as the leading cause of disability among mental disorders. However, research on the brain correlates of MDD lacks definitive consensus regarding the areas affected by reduction (atrophy) or increase (hypertrophy) in grey matter volume. The heterogeneity of studies included in previous meta-analyses and the presence of samples with comorbidity with other disorders, including anxiety, may have contributed to the discrepancy in results. Two new meta-analyses on a large sample of MDD patients with and without anxiety comorbidity have attempted to shed light on the issue. The results show atrophy in the insula as well as hypertrophy in the amygdala in patients with MDD. These results were not replicated in patients with comorbidity, suggesting a different impact of anxiety on brain structure.

Romeo, Z., Biondi, M., Oltedal, L., & Spironelli, C. (2024). The Dark and Gloomy Brain: Grey Matter Volume Alterations in Major Depressive Disorder–Fine-Grained Meta-Analyses. Depression and Anxiety, 2024, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6673522