Publications by authors named "Thomas S Blank"
Article Synopsis
- Early-onset major depressive disorder (EO-MDD) is linked to more severe depressive episodes and relapses compared to adult-onset MDD. Neurobiological differences suggest that EO patients may have distinct brain structures and functions.
- A study with 103 patients revealed that EO-MDD patients exhibited increased gray matter volume in specific brain regions like the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, along with altered functional connectivity, particularly between the hippocampus and amygdala.
- Findings indicate that the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are crucial for emotion regulation in EO-MDD, suggesting that adolescence is critical for addressing MDD. Further research is needed to understand how neural recovery varies with the age of onset
Depress Anxiety
April 2021
Article Synopsis
- Residual depressive symptoms can lead to long-term health issues for patients who have recovered from major depression (rMDD), but there are no clear neurobiological predictors for their recovery trajectory.
- rMDD patients underwent MRI scans to analyze brain structure and function, revealing that changes in the default mode network (DMN) are linked to shifts in depressive symptoms and the likelihood of relapse within two years.
- Findings indicate that greater connectivity in the DMN and larger volumes in specific brain regions are associated with better symptom outcomes, suggesting potential pathways for developing treatments aimed at preventing future depressive episodes in rMDD patients.
