ArticlePsychopharmacology2015
Neurochemistry of major depression: a study using magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Article in Psychopharmacology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 56 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
56 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 101 citations in OpenAlex.
- Glutathione-Related Metabolite Levels and Enzyme Activities in Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Neuropsychopharmacology reports · 2026Pooled it
- Glutathione alterations in depression: a meta-analysis and systematic review of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies.Psychopharmacology · 2025Pooled it
- A Meta-Analysis of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Studies on Glutamatergic Neurometabolite Levels in Major Depressive Disorder.Depression and anxiety · 2025Pooled it
- Role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in cerebral glutathione quantification for youth mental health: A systematic review.Early intervention in psychiatry · 2020Pooled it
- Meta-analysis of central and peripheral γ-aminobutyric acid levels in patients with unipolar and bipolar depression.Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN · 2018Pooled it
- A Meta-Analysis of Oxidative Stress Markers in Depression.PloS one · 2015Pooled it
- Ultra-high field magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment in adolescents with depression.BMC psychiatry · 2026Trial
- Does the change in glutamate to GABA ratio correlate with change in depression severity? A randomized, double-blind clinical trial.Molecular psychiatry · 2022Trial
- Cortical inhibition, facilitation and plasticity in late-life depression: effects of venlafaxine pharmacotherapy.Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN · 2021Trial
- Trial
- Acute change in anterior cingulate cortex GABA, but not glutamine/glutamate, mediates antidepressant response to citalopram.Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging · 2017Trial
- Peripheral S-(PGJBMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- The Role of Various Types of Diets in the Treatments of Depressive Disorders.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Review
- The association between gamma-aminobutyric acid levels and suicidal behavior in depression.BMC psychiatry · 2025Article
- Glutathione in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders.Current issues in molecular biology · 2024Review
- Modulators of GABANeuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2024Review
- The role of neurotransmitters in mediating the relationship between brain alterations and depressive symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.Human brain mapping · 2023Article
- Sex hormones as correlates of oxidative stress in the adult brain.Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging · 2023Article
- A Comprehensive Overview of the Role of Visual Cortex Malfunction in Depressive Disorders: Opportunities and Challenges.Neuroscience bulletin · 2023Review
- Signatures of exposure to childhood trauma in young adults in the structure and neurochemistry of the superior temporal gyrus.Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
rationaleMagnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an acceptable non-invasive means of studying brain neurochemistry in depression. Previous studies in depressed patients have focused on measurement of the amino acid neurotransmitters, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate.
objectivesThe aim of this study is to use MRS in conjunction with the ultrashort echo time 'SPECIAL' technique to measure cortical levels of GABA, glutamate and glutathione (GSH) levels in unmedicated patients with major depression. We also examined the effect of 6-week treatment with the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, escitalopram.
methodsWe studied patients with DSM-IV major depression and healthy age-matched controls using proton MRS. GABA, glutamate and GSH were measured relative to creatine in a voxel placed in occipital cortex.
resultsThere was no difference in GABA or glutamate levels between depressed participants and controls; however, depressed patients had lower GSH levels. Six-week escitalopram treatment, which resulted in significant clinical responses in some patients, did not alter concentrations of GABA, glutamate or GSH.
conclusionsThe sources of variability of GABA and glutamate measures in different studies of depressed patients require further study. Our results suggest that concomitant treatment with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is unlikely to be an important confounding factor. If lowered GSH levels can be confirmed, they may represent the presence of oxidative stress in some depressed patients.
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Registered trials
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