biostudies-literatureUnknown10Salo KIWestfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster<b>Background:</b> The <i>vascular depression hypothesis</i> emphasizes the significance of vascular lesions in late-life depression. At present, no meta-analytic model has investigated whether a difference in hyperintensity burden compared to controls between late-life and late-onset depression is evident. By including a substantial number of studies, focusing on a meaningful outcome measure, and considering several moderating and control variables, the present meta-analysis investigates the severity of hyperintensity burden in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). A major focus of the present meta-analysis refers to the role of age at illness onset. It is analyzed whether late-onset rather than late-life depression characterizes vascular depression. <b>Method:</b> InFrontiers in psychology1241https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6555192biostudies-literatureConfining the Concept of Vascular Depression to Late-Onset Depression: A Meta-Analysis of MRI-Defined Hyperintensity Burden in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.PMC6555192Scharfen JHolling HWilden IDSalo KISchubotz RIfalseConfining the Concept of Vascular Depression to Late-Onset Depression: A Meta-Analysis of MRI-Defined Hyperintensity Burden in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.<b>Background:</b> The <i>vascular depression hypothesis</i> emphasizes the significance of vascular lesions in late-life depression. At present, no meta-analytic model has investigated whether a difference in hyperintensity burden compared to controls between late-life and late-onset depression is evident. By including a substantial number of studies, focusing on a meaningful outcome measure, and considering several moderating and control variables, the present meta-analysis investigates the severity of hyperintensity burden in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). A major focus of the present meta-analysis refers to the role of age at illness onset. It is analyzed whether late-onset rather than late-life depression characterizes vascular depression. <b>Method:</b> In2019-01-01T00:00:00Z20192025-04-18T18:39:50.681Z2019-07-24T07:11:38ZS-EPMC65551923121407210.3389/fpsyg.2019.01241