The impact of external stress factors on hippocampus volume during antidepressant treatment

ABSTRACT

Background and objectives: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest that depression is associated with volumetric hippocampal changes. Investigations of these structures during antidepressant therapy is therefore important, however, volumetric studies are rare in this case. We aimed to study the effect of AD treatment on volumetric changes in hippocampus depending on stress factors in depressive patients.MethodsThirty patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) underwent MRI of the brain on the day of admission and at the time of stabilization of acute depressive symptomatology by venlafaxine. The presence of long-lasting stress factors in these patients was investigated by the social readjustment rating scale questionnaire.ResultsNo significant differences were found in hippocampi volumes before and after venlafaxine treatment. However, regression analysis revealed significant positive relation between stress factors and volumetric hippocampus change during AD treatment.ConclusionIt seems that antidepressant treatment by venlafaxine could be more suitable in the MDD patients with presence of stress-factors. (AU)