BRAIN CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RISK AND PRESENCE OF MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER IN ADOLESCENTS

• Grant number: 24/05156-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Camargo Batistuzzo
• Grantee: Fernanda Rohrsetzer Cunegatto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psiquiatria Doutor Antonio Carlos Pacheco e Silva (IPq). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to investigate brain characteristics associated with the risk and presence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescents, using a longitudinal approach. The initial sample of the study, at Wave 0 (W0), included 150 adolescents, with a predominance of 75% girls, aged between 14 and 16 years (average age = 15.4). Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in two distinct waves over a three-year follow-up period, aiming to assess brain morphometric changes and their correlations with the incidence of MDD. Recruitment for Wave 3 (W3), conducted 32 months after the start of the study (W0), involved 98 adolescents, now aged between 17 and 19 years (average age = 18.0). By employing advanced neuroimaging techniques, along with the analysis of psychological and environmental factors, the study seeks to identify early neurobiological markers of MDD. This effort highlights the importance of understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying MDD, with the goal of improving prevention and early intervention strategies, providing valuable insights for clinical practice and the scientific community.