• Yuqun Zhang, Youyong Kong, Xiaoyun Liu, Heren Gao, Yingying Yin, Zhenghua Hou, Haisan Zhang, Hongxing Zhang, Chunming Xie, Zhijun Zhang, and Yonggui Yuan.
• School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
• J Magn Reson Imaging. 2021 May 1; 53 (5): 1375-1386.

BackgroundAlterations in gray matter (GM) have been recognized as playing an important role in the neurobiological mechanism underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) and antidepressant responses. However, little is known about white matter (WM) connectivity in MDD, leaving an incomplete understanding of the pathophysiology of the disorder.PurposeTo examine the functional connectivity (FC) of WM, GM, and WM-GM in MDD patients and explore the relationship between FC and antidepressant response.Study TypeLongitudinal study.SubjectsIn all, 129 MDD patients and 89 healthy controls (HC).Field Strength/SequenceWhole-brain blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) single-shot echo planar imaging was acquired at 3.0T.AssessmentAt baseline, all participants received Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) assessment and an fMRI scan. After 2- and 8-week antidepressant treatment, patients completed the HAMD again. The HAMD reductive rate of 2- and 8-weeks were calculated.Statistical TestsThe comparisons of age, education, HAMD scores, and FC values (false discovery rate correction) between patients and controls were calculated with a two-sample t-test. The chi-square test was employed to compare the differences of gender between these two groups. Correlations between FC and HAMD, as well as the reductive rate of HAMD, were analyzed with Pearson or Spearman correlation. Receiver operator curve analysis was performed to predict the antidepressant response.ResultsCompared to HC, MDD patients exhibited widespread decreases in FC of WM-GM. Furthermore, 28 GM regions and 11 WM bundles had lower connectivity in MDD patients. At baseline, four FC of WM-GM showed negative correlations with the HAMD scores. Six FC of WM-GM correlated with the 2-week reductive rate of HAMD. Moreover, FC in GM, WM, and WM-GM also exhibited significantly positive correlations with an 8-week reductive rate of HAMD.Data ConclusionThe FC of WM-GM was decreased in MDD and may play a role in its pathophysiology and antidepressant responses.Level Of Evidence2.Technical Efficacy Stage2.© 2020 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

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