Modulation of cortical-limbic pathways in major depression
Subtitle: treatment-specific effect of cognitive behavior therapy.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 66
Description: Objective. Neuroimaging studies of depression demonstrate response-specific changes following various antidepressant treatments. Changes associated with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) have not been reported.Results. CBT was associated with metabolic changes: increases in hippocampus and dorsal cingulate, decreases in dorsal, ventral and medial frontal cortex. This pattern is distinct from that seen with paroxetine response where prefrontal increases and hippocampal and subgenual cingulate decreases were seen.Method. Brain changes associated with CBT were examined using positron emission tomography. Seventeen depressed patients were scanned before and after 15--20 therapy sessions. A post hoc comparison to thirteen paroxetine treated responders was performed to interpret the specificity of CBT effects.Conclusions. CBT may affect recovery by modulating the functioning of specific sites in limbic and cortical regions. Unique directional changes in frontal cortex, cingulate and hippocampus with CBT relative to paroxetine may reflect modality-specific effects with implications for understanding mechanisms underlying different treatments.
Notes: Adviser:  Helen Mayberg.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, page: 2158.

MICR copy on microfiche (1 microfiche).