Anterior cingulate cortex γ-aminobutyric acid in depressed adolescents: relationship to anhedonia.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Anhedonia, a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) and highly variable among adolescents with MDD, may involve alterations in the major inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitter system of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Objective

To test whether anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) GABA levels, measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, are decreased in adolescents with MDD. The associations of GABA alterations with the presence and severity of anhedonia were explored.

Design

Case-control, cross-sectional study using single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 T.

Setting

Two clinical research divisions at 2 teaching hospitals.

Participants

Twenty psychotropic medication-free adolescents with MDD (10 anhedonic, 12 female, aged

SUBMITTER: Gabbay V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3711232 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature