Attenuated Visual Function in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Background: We sought to investigate visual function, primarily, and structural changes in retinal ganglion cells, secondarily, in patients with major depressive disorder. Methods: A total of 50 normal participants and 49 patients with major depressive disorder were included in this cross-sectional study. The participants underwent 24–2 standard automated perimetry and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results: The pattern standard deviation (PSD) in the visual field test was higher in the major depressive disorder patients than in the normal control subjects (p = 0.017). The patients with major depressive disorder showed reduced minimum ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness relative to the normal control participants (p = 0.015). The average score on the Hamilton Depression Rating scale showed a significant correlation with the PSD, minimum GCIPL thickness, and inferior GCIPL thickness (r = 0.265, p = 0.009; r = −0.239, p = 0.017; and r = −0.204, p = 0.043, respectively). The multivariate analysis of factors associated with PSD showed old age and a high Hamilton Depression Rating score to be relevant (p = 0.002 and 0.028, respectively). Conclusions: Visual function was decreased and the GCIPL thickness was reduced in major depressive disorder patients. The retinal neurodegenerative process in depression might be considered in patients with depression.

Stable abnormalities of contrast discrimination sensitivity in subthreshold depression: A longitudinal study

“…Deficits of visual functioning have been found in many mental illnesses, such as depression (e.g., Jung et al, 2020; Wesner & Tan, 2006), anxiety (e.g., Ferneyhough et al, 2013; Meynadasy et al, 2020), bipolar disorder (e.g., Fernandes et al, 2019; O'Bryan et al, 2014), schizophrenia (see reviews, Silverstein, 2016; Thakkar et al, 2019), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (e.g., Bartgis et al, 2009; Dönmez et al, 2020), autism spectrum disorders (e.g., Bakroon & Lakshminarayanan, 2016; Noel et al, 2021), obsessive–compulsive disorder (e.g., Gonçalves et al, 2010; Stern et al, 2017), and post‐traumatic stress disorder (van der Ham et al, 2021).…”

Health-Related Quality of Life in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients

“…Studies have shown that bilateral VF defects and depressive symptoms were more prevalent in glaucoma patients with impaired VRQL 40,41 . It was found that visual function and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness were decreased in depressive patients 42 . Furthermore, Jayawant et al found the presence of depressive symptoms to negatively affect the regularity of taking antiglaucoma therapy and to increase the cost of glaucoma treatment 43 .…”

“…Studies have shown that bilateral VF defects and depressive symptoms were more prevalent in glaucoma patients with impaired VRQL ( 40 , 41 ). It was found that visual function and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness were decreased in depressive patients ( 42 ). Furthermore, Jayawant et al .…”

Development of a Novel Retina−Based Diagnostic Score for Early Detection of Major Depressive Disorder: An Interdisciplinary View

“…As a neurodegenerative disease, the diagnosis of MDD mainly relies on the patient’s subjective assessment and lacks quantifiable objective indicators. Although previous studies have demonstrated the structural alterations of the retina in MDD patients, such as thinner RNFLT ( 36 ), reduced minimum ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer and poor visual function ( 37 ), a highly reliable retinal-related indicators for screening of early-stage MDD remains to be identified for the following reasons. First, previous research indicators on the retina of MDD patients are relatively single, mostly focusing on retinal thickness, and a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the retina is lacking.…”