Brain alterations in adolescents with first-episode depression who have experienced adverse events: evidence from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Introduction: Adverse life events constitute primary risk factors for major depressive disorder (MDD), influencing brain function and structure. Adolescents, with their brains undergoing continuous development, are particularly susceptible to enduring impacts of adverse events.

Methods: We investigated differences and correlations among childhood trauma, negative life events, and alterations of brain function in adolescents with first-episode MDD. The study included 23 patients with MDD and 19 healthy controls, aged 10-19 years. All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and were assessed using the beck depression inventory, childhood trauma questionnaire, and adolescent self-rating life events checklist.

Results: Compared with healthy controls, participants with first-episode MDD were more likely to have experienced emotional abuse, physical neglect, interpersonal relationship problems, and learning stress (all p' < 0.05). These adverse life events were significantly correlated with alterations in brain functions (all p < 0.05).

Discussion: This study contributes novel evidence on the underlying process between adverse life events, brain function, and depression, emphasizing the significant neurophysiological impact of environmental factors.

Keywords: adolescents; childhood trauma; major depressive disorder; negative life events; resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Figure 1

Brain region where adolescents with MDD had significantly more activity than healthy controls. The highlighted region was located on the most significantly different voxel of the right Rolandic operculum (X, Y, Z = 51, -6, 12, T = 4.678, P_FDR < 0.05). The color bar represents the T value of zReHo. zReHo, z-standardized regional homogeneity. MDD, major depressive disorder.

Figure 2

Functional connectivity patterns of the right Rolandic operculum in the HC and MDD groups (P_FDR < 0.05, cluster size > 10). The color bar represents the T value of functional connectivity. HC, healthy control; L, left; MDD, major depressive disorder; R, right; ROI, region of interest.

Figure 3

Brain regions where adolescents with MDD had less connectivity than the HCs. The highlighted regions were located on the most significantly different voxels of the right orbital part of the middle frontal and the left postcentral gyrus (X, Y, Z = 27, 36, -21, T = 4.646; X, Y, Z =-21, -39, 78, T = 4.122; voxel p < 0.05, cluster p < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). The color bar represents the T value of functional connectivity. L, left; R, right; MDD, major depressive disorder; HC, healthy control.

Figure 4

All participants showed negative correlations between the discrepant regions of functional connectivity in the right orbital part of the middle frontal gyrus and the right Rolandic operculum with BDI score (A), CTQ-PN (B), ASLEC, adolescent self-rating life events checklist; BDI, beck depression inventory; CTQ, childhood trauma questionnaire; FC, functional connectivity; ORBmid.R, right orbital part of the middle frontal gyrus; ROL.R, right Rolandic operculum.

Figure 5

All participants showed negative correlations between the discrepant regions of functional connectivity in the left postcentral gyrus and the right Rolandic operculum with CTQ-T (A), CTQ-PN (B), and ASLEC-LS (C). ASLEC, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist; CTQ, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire; FC, functional connectivity; PoCG.L, left postcentral gyrus; ROL.R, right Rolandic operculum.