Hippocampal Volume Alterations in Depressed Adolescents with Self-Harm Behavior

초록

Background: Self-harm—a notable public health concern—commonly begins during adolescence, which is a period characterized by intense psychological and neurobiological changes. This study aimed to identify structural brain alterations in adolescents with first-onset, drug-naive major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibiting self-harm behaviors. Methods: We recruited 30 adolescents diagnosed with MDD and self-harm issues and 27 age-matched healthy controls all aged between 13 and 18 years. Cortical and subcortical brain structures were imaged using magnetic resonance imaging and analyzed using FreeSurfer v6.0’s automated segmentation module. Results: After controlling for age, education, sex, and intelligence, the MDD group showed significantly reduced hippocampal volumes compared to healthy controls, indicating a critical neurobiological feature. There were no notable group differences for other cortical and subcortical volumes. Conclusion: Reduced hippocampal volumes in adolescents with MDD and self-harm underscore the hippocampus’s specific involvement in the neurobiological underpinnings of adolescent depression and self-harm. This study highlights the need for longitudinal and functional research to further explore the underlying mechanisms and roles of the hippocampus—particularly in youths with MDD exhibiting suicide-related behaviors.

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