Intra‐ and Extracellular White Matter Micromorphology Predict the Antidepressant Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

作者：Sirui Wang, Xiaochen Zhang, Gai Kong, Yuhao Lin, Tianyuan Zhu, Zhenying Qian, Lihua Xu, HuiRu Cui, Jijun Wang, Hui Li, Yingying Tang · 发表于：Depression and Anxiety · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1155/da/1749444 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies、Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications、Functional Brain Connectivity Studies

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a widely used treatment for major depressive disorders (MDD). However, its physiological effects remain unclear, and its efficacy varies among patients. Functional connectivity (FC) within MDD‐related networks has shown potential for predicting TMS efficacy. White matter (WM) micromorphology contributes to these connections and may provide new insights into the prediction of TMS effects and its antidepressant mechanism in MDD, which has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential predictors of TMS efficacy using whole‐brain WM microstructural characteristics. Methods: This retrospective study included 41 patients with MDD who completed 20‐session TMS treatments. We examined intra‐ and extracellular WM using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI). We examined the correlations between pre‐TMS whole‐brain WM measures and the reduction in Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores after TMS, as well as the longitudinal changes in regional WM measures correlated with MADRS reduction. Results: The pre‐TMS intracellular neurite density index (NDI) within the bilateral internal capsule (IC), right posterior corona radiata (PCR), right superior corona radiata (SCR), corpus callosum (CC), and bilateral posterior thalamic radiation (PTR) were positively associated with the reduction in MADRS scores. The pre‐TMS extracellular free‐water fraction (FWF) within th...