Depression is a multifaceted syndrome linked to various functional and chemical alterations in the brain. Psychotherapy is an integral part of depression treatment, yet the effects of psychotherapy on neurofunctional and neurochemical alterations found in depression remain poorly understood.
We have three primary aims. First, to identify specific neurofunctional and neurochemical alterations in depression related to dysfunctional memory, emotion, and reward processing. Second, to determine the effect of psychotherapy on the neurofunctional and neurochemical alterations. Finally, to define which neural markers are predictive of response to psychotherapy in depression. To achieve our aims, we employ neuroimaging methods such as task-based and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Neuroimaging methods are combined with psychometric instruments such as questionnaires, psychological tests, and clinical interviews to capture symptomatology and specific aspects of psychic structure.
Currently, we focus on the following research topics:
- Effects of psychodynamic psychotherapy on functional connectivity of brain regions mediating interoceptive and emotional processes during autobiographic memory recall.
- Differential associations of depression and early life adversity with alterations in functional connectivity of resting state brain networks. Identification of moderation effects of alterations in functional connectivity on treatment response to psychotherapy in depression.
- Deficits in psychic structure such as insufficient differentiation of affects and impaired affect regulation in depression and its relations with specific neurofunctional alterations at rest. Effects of psychotherapy on deficits in psychic structure and associated neurofunctional alterations.
- The association of depression with alterations of metabolite concentrations in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex and its relation to neural activation during reward processing. Effects of psychotherapy on alterations in metabolite concentrations in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex.
- Predicting treatment response to psychotherapy in depression using grey matter volume and resting state functional connectivity of brain regions that mediate emotion and memory processing.
