Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31304733›Full record

ArticleJournal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN2019

Large-scale evidence for an association between low-grade peripheral inflammation and brain structural alterations in major depression in the BiDirect study

Nils Opel, Micah Cearns, Scott Clark, Catherine Toben, Dominik Grotegerd, Walter Heindel, Harald Kugel, Anja Teuber, Heike Minnerup, Klaus Berger and 2 more

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PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
31citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

31 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Meta-analysis of cortical thickness abnormalities in medication-free patients with major depressive disorder.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2020
    Pooled it
  3. Article
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  9. Stress-Related Brain Alterations in Chronic Pain.European journal of pain (London, England) · 2025
    Article
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  11. Article
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  13. Childhood maltreatment influences adult brain structure through its effects on immune, metabolic, and psychosocial factors.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Nils OpelFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Micah CearnsFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Scott ClarkFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Catherine TobenFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Dominik GrotegerdFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Walter HeindelFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Harald KugelFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Anja TeuberFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Heike MinnerupFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Klaus BergerFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Udo DannlowskiFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).
Bernhard T. BauneFrom the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Germany (Opel, Grotegerd, Dannlowski, Baune) the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), University of Münster, Germany (Opel); the Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia (Cearns, Clark, Toben); the Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Germany (Heindel, Kugel); the Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Germany (Teuber, Minnerup, Berger); the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Baune); and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (Baune).

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Preliminary research suggests that major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with structural alterations in the brain; as well as with low-grade peripheral inflammation. However, even though a link between inflammatory processes and altered brain structural integrity has been purported by experimental research, well-powered studies to confirm this hypothesis in patients with MDD have been lacking. We aimed to investigate the potential association between structural brain alterations and low-grade inflammation as interrelated biological correlates of MDD. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 514 patients with MDD and 359 healthy controls underwent structural MRI. We used voxel-based morphometry to study local differences in grey matter volume. We also assessed serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in each participant. Results: Compared with healthy controls (age [mean ± standard deviation] 52.57 ± 7.94 yr; 50% male), patients with MDD (49.14 ± 7.28 yr, 39% male) exhibited significantly increased hsCRP levels (Z = −5.562, p < 0.001) and significantly decreased grey matter volume in the prefrontal cortex and the insula. Prefrontal grey matter volume reductions were significantly associated with higher hsCRP levels in patients with MDD (x = 50, y = 50, z = 8; t1,501 = 5.15; k = 92; pFWE < 0.001). In the MDD sample, the significant negative association between hsCRP and grey matter appeared independent of age, sex, body mass index, current smoking status, antidepressant load, hospitalization and medical comorbidities. Limitations: This study had a cross-sectional design. Conclusion: The present study highlights the role of reduced grey matter volume and low-grade peripheral inflammation as interrelated biological correlates of MDD. The reported inverse association between peripheral low-grade inflammation and brain structural integrity in patients with MDD translates current knowledge from experimental studies to the bedside.

Indexed as

AdultBrainCase-Control StudiesCerebral CortexC-Reactive ProteinCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGray MatterHumansInflammationMajor Depressive DisorderMaleMiddle AgedOrgan SizePrefrontal CortexC-Reactive Protein

Identifiers

PMID31304733
PMCPMC6821515

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