Section - Quick Takes

03. Pretreatment Brain Connectome Fingerprint Predicts Treatment Response in Major Depressive Disorder

Published on May 1, 2021 Expired on April 1, 2024

James Phelps, M.D.

Research Editor - Psychopharmacology Institute

Key Points

What is different about someone’s brain when they are depressed? Think not in terms of brain structures, like the anterior cingulate, or brain networks, like the default mode metwork; think in terms of how these networks connect, or the “functional connectome.”

To unlock this audio you need to become a Silver, Gold, Silver extended or Gold extended Member.

Check Our CME Program

Downloads for Offline Access

Download Audio File (MP3)

Text version

In your office, Ms. Dominguez describes intense negative ruminative thoughts despite her successes as a mother and as an engineer. Her depression is so severe that her career and family are suffering. What’s different in her brain compared to when she was not depressed like this? Here’s an article that moves our understanding forward.

Hi! Jim Phelps here for the Psychopharmacology Institute. You’ve heard about the default mode network. It’s implicated in the mechanism of action of psilocybin in major depressive disorder, as outlined in another Quick Take in this current volume. I thought it would be useful to look at research on brain networks in depression because in just a few years, research on brain mechanisms has moved from focusing on particular brain regions such as the anterior cingulate or ventral striatum, to brain networks, particularly, the default mode network. As you’ll see, the work has gotten further yet

Unlock this Quick Take and earn 0.50 CMEs
Become a Silver, Gold, Silver extended or Gold extended Member.

Get Instant Access

Already have an account? Sign in

Next Section

04. Citalopram for Acute and Preventive Efficacy in Bipolar Depression (CAPE-BD): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Learning Objectives:

After completing this activity, the learner will be able to:

Examine the rationale and data behind the consideration of chlorpromazine for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 infection.
Assess the clinical implications of strong positive results from a randomized trial of psilocybin in patients with major depressive disorder.
Broaden the view of “what’s different about someone’s brain when they’re depressed” to include recent research on the “functional connectome.”
Examine new data on the efficacy of antidepressants in the treatment of bipolar depression.
Compare the mortality rates of patients with COVID-19 who also have psychotic, mood, or anxiety disorders vs a reference population.

Original Release Date: 05/01/2021

Review Date: 03/01/2024

Expiration Date: 04/01/2024

Relevant Financial Disclosures:

The following planners, faculty, and reviewers have the following relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Dr. Phelps has disclosed the following relationships:

McGraw-Hill: book on bipolar disorder
W.W. Norton & Co.: books on bipolar disorder

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

Contact Information: For questions regarding the content or access to this activity, contact us at support@psychopharmacologyinstitute.com

Instructions for Participation and Credit:

Participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period that is noted above.

Follow these steps to earn CME credit:

View the required educational content provided on this course page.
Complete the Post Activity Evaluation for providing the necessary feedback for continuing accreditation purposes and for the development of future activities. NOTE: Completing the Post Activity Evaluation after the quiz is required to receive the earned credit.
Download your certificate.