The Effect of Depression on the Volume of the Brain

Colbie Burley
 The Effect of Depression on the Volume of the Brain

Abstract

This research project examined the effect of depression, specifically major depressive

disorder, on the volume of the human brain. Also, the project features connections between

common symptoms individuals experience and their origin in the brain. The hypothesis stated

that if a human is diagnosed with depression, then the volume of specific parts of the brain will

be greater in comparison to a control. The researcher used data from a previous experiment

completed by Grieve, Korgaonkar, Koslow, Gordon, and Williams. Percent change was

calculated of the lowest and highest differences in volume from the data provided. The biggest

difference was -10.63% and the smallest was -2.288%. The results rejected the hypothesis,

leading to the conclusion that there is a significant loss of grey matter associated with depression,

similar to the loss expected from 14 years of aging.

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 The Effect of Depression on the Volume of the Brain

Depression: experienced by many but unique in every case. It is defined as a common

and serious medical illness that negatively affects how one feels, thinks, and acts. Although

depression can be linked through family histories, it cannot be linked to a specific gene.

Symptoms of depression include but are not limited to fatigue, weight loss or gain, loss of

interest, and lack of concentration (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

The research study’s purpose was to evaluate the effect of depression on the human brain.

The researcher had previous knowledge of how depression affects the human body, like weight

gain. The research completed in this project is important because it shows the severity of

depression as a disease.

This research study was completed with the aid of a previous study published online. The

study from which the data was collected focused on the cerebellum, occipital lobe, and frontal

lobe. The cerebellum is located at the top of the brain stem and is composed of two hemispheres.

The cerebellum is responsible for motor and voluntary movements after receiving information

from the sensory system (Healthline Medical Team, 2015). The occipital lobe, separated into the

left and right hemispheres, is dedicated to vision, including assessing distance, depth, and size,

identifying visual stimuli, mapping the visual world, and determining color. The occipital lobe is

located at the base of the skull, above the vertebrae. The frontal lobe is located behind the

forehead and skull. This part of the brain is responsible for personality, impulse control,

language, assessing future consequences, and long-term memory, especially emotional

memories (Spinal Cord Inc., 2017).

After researching depression and the brain, a hypothesis was formed regarding depression’s

effect on the brain’s volume. If the volume of the brain is taken before and during depression,

then the volume would increase. The hypothesis was based on evidence of excessive secretion of

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serotonin and cortisol due to high levels of stress and higher activity when depressed(Harvard

Health Publishing, 2009). It was observed in other studies that the amygdala increased in volume

because of excessive secretion.

This study is focused on the effect of Major Depressive Disorder on the volume of the

brain. Major Depressive Disorder is a type of depression, often referred to as MDD. MDD is

defined as a mood disorder having a clinical course involving one or more episodes of serious

psychological depression lasting two or more weeks each, with no intervening episodes of mania

(Merriam-Webster, 2017). Grieve, Korgaonkar, Koslow, Gordon, and Williams collected the

data with a 3.0 T GE Signa HDx scanner, which is an MRI scanner. 136 participants were

involved in this study; 34 were controls and 102 were diagnosed with MDD.

Method

Participants Characteristics

Grieve, Korgaonkar, Koslow, Gordon, and Williams completed an experiment that

included 136 participants. The participants were divided into two groups: 102 clinically

diagnosed with major depressive disorder and 34 control. The study used individuals aged 18-65.

All of the participants were educated, ranging between 11.2 to 18.2 years, as well as being fluent

in English. Another requirement for the participants of the study was to score 16 or below on the

Hamilton rating scale for depression.

Data collection

To further the research and analysis of Grieve, Korgaonkar, Koslow, Gordon, and

Williams, the percent difference was calculated based off the data provided, which included the

average of each brain part’s volume including a range all of the data point fell into. When

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 The Effect of Depression on the Volume of the Brain

calculated, the range gave the minimum and maximum volume measured in the study. Using

these minimum and maximum values from the controls and MDD participants, the percent

difference was calculated using the equation.

Data Analysis

To further the research and analysis of Grieve, Korgaonkar, Koslow, Gordon, and

Williams, I calculated the percent difference based off the data provided. The data gave the

average of the brain part’s volume including a range all of the data point fell into. When

calculated, the range gave the minimum and maximum volume measured in the study. I took the

minimum and maximum values from the controls and MDD participants and calculated the

percent difference. The equation used was |(First Value − Second Value)/(½)(First Value +

Second Value)| × 100%.

Research Design

Subjects were not directly observed. The participants had MRIs completed in rested

states. Conclusions were drawn based off of MRIs completed at GE Healthcare in Milwaukee,

Washington. There were no experimental manipulations or interventions; however there was a

control group of participants not affected by depression

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Max Hamilton used his depression rating scale in the 1950s to analyze his patients who

were among the first to take antidepressants. The scale is now in widespread use in the

psychology field, where today’s psychologists utilize it to rate the severity of depression in an

individual. The 17, sometimes 24, characteristics are used by health care professionals in a

clinical interview of an identified depressed individual. The list includes categories of insomnia,

suicide, feelings of guilt, and anxiety, among others. If the patient scores 0-7 points they are not

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 The Effect of Depression on the Volume of the Brain

considered depressed. A score of 8-16 points concludes that the patient is mildly depressed. 17-

23 points suggests that they have moderate depression, and 24+ indicates severe depression.

Results

Compared to the control participants, the individuals with MDD experienced a decrease

in volume in the cerebellum, frontal lobe, and the occipital lobe. When calculating the percent

differences, an outlier was noticed. The outlier is the high end percent difference of the

cerebellum. The data point ended up as a positive percent difference, insinuating an increase in

volume. All of the other data points were negative percent differences. That data can be

discarded because it was overtly stated by the study published that none of the patients with

MDD experienced an increase in volume compared to the control.

Discussion

As shown by the data in Table 1, the original hypothesis, if an individual is diagnosed

with depression, then the volume of specific parts of the brain will be greater in comparison to a

control, was rejected. The participants that had MDD showed no increase in brain volume

throughout the experiment conducted by Grieive, Korgaonkar, Koslow, Gordon, and Williams.

The purpose of the experiment previously completed was to find the pattern of brain

volume loss in patients with MDD. In their research completed before the study, it was overtly

stated that there is brain volume loss associated with depression. The data calculated by the study

completed by other scientist was used for the purpose finding if there is an overall decrease in

percentage of brain volume associated with depression.

Inferences

Based on the functions of the cerebellum, frontal lobe, and occipital lobe, inferences were

made about the origin of symptoms experienced throughout the course of depression. The frontal

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 The Effect of Depression on the Volume of the Brain

lobe may be the origin of reduced control of impulse control, difficulty in formation and

retention of long term memories, changes in personality, and attention difficulties. Abnormalities

in vision may originate in the occipital lobe. The cerebellum may be the origin of speech

difficulties.

Impact

The impact of this project is the knowledge that there is a reduction in brain volume due

to depression. This scientific fact adds to the severity and damaging effects the disease has on the

brain and body.

Furthering Research

To continue the impact of the project, methods could be researched or experimented to

help with in slowing or stop the reduction experienced.

Bias

To reduce bias the researchers did not include any participants with geriatric MDD. This

is a preventative, because it is known that there is a reduction in the volume in the brain

associated with aging. The participants used were younger to reduce the amount of years spent in

the normal aging process.

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Appendix

Table 1: The Effect of Depression on the Volume of the Brain

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 The Effect of Depression on the Volume of the Brain

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