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Abstract #2148

Decreased Anterior Cingulate Cortex GABA in Depressed Adolescents Measured by Proton MRS at 3T

Vilma Gabbay1, Xiangling Mao2, Yisrael Katz1, Aviva Pazner1, James S. Babb1, Dikoma C. Shungu2

1NYU Child Study Center, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States; 2Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States


Adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious public health concern as it often leads to suicide. However, limited research has been conducted to date in this clinical population. This is the first study to examine in vivo γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in adolescents with MDD. Using proton MRS, levels of GABA were measured in the anterior cingulate cortex of adolescents with MDD and found to be decreased compared to matched healthy control subjects. This finding supports the notion that GABA abnormalities may be involved early in the etiology of MDD.