Late life depression and structural brain changes: A review of recent magnetic resonance imaging research

✍ Scribed by R. C. Baldwin

• Book ID: 102847185
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 848 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.930080203

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Recent findings using magnetic resonance imaging to investigate late life depression have reported an unexpectedly high prevalence of white matter and other structural brain changes, suggesting a possible organic aetiology to the disorder in a proportion of cases. These findings are examined critically and it is concluded that their significance is not yet clear, although they may reflect underlying cerebrovascular change. A lack of postmortem data constitutes a major deficiency in this area of enquiry. An approach combining structural and dynamic imaging with postmortem examination would be the best strategy for future research.