Reduced Prefrontal Glutamate/Glutamine and γ-Aminobutyric Acid Levels in Major Depression Determined Using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract

For the first time, GABA and Glx concentrations were compared between unmedicated depressed adults and controls in prefrontal ROIs. The abnormal reductions in Glx and GABA concentrations found in the MDD sample were compatible with findings from postmortem histopathologic studies, indicating that glial cell density is reduced in the same areas in MDD.