Journal article

Decomposing neuroanatomical heterogeneity in depression: insights from an ENIGMA major depressive disorder working group study in 5146 individuals.

Lukas Sempach, Sarah Ulrich, Stéphanie EEC Bauduin, Jochen Bauer, Francesco Benedetti, Klaus Berger, Bianca Besteher, Robin Bülow, Colm G Connolly, Emmanuelle Corruble, Baptiste Couvy-Duchesne, Kathryn R Cullen, Udo Dannlowski, Christopher G Davey, Danai Dima, Annemiek Dols, Jennifer W Evans, Cynthia Fu, Paola Fuentes-Claramonte, Ali Saffet Gonul Show all

Transl Psychiatry | Published : 2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41398-026-04189-x

Open access

Abstract

The clinical and biological heterogeneity of major depressive disorder (MDD) may reflect the aggregation of different conditions with distinct pathologies under a single diagnostic label. Neuroanatomical heterogeneity in MDD was examined using a harmonized, age- and sex-matched sample from the ENIGMA MDD consortium (N = 5146; age range: 9-82 years; 64% female). Analyses of global neurostrucutral variability revealed greater cortical thickness heterogeneity in MDD compared with healthy controls (Cohen's d = -0.26). Regionally, increased variability in cortical thickness was most prominent in the cingulate (+6.1 to +6.6% more variation in MDD) and insular (+5.8%) cortices, as well as in the fr..

View full abstract

Related Projects (4)

Project icon

PREDICTING TREATMENT RESPONSE IN YOUTH DEPRESSION WITH BRAIN IMAGING

Depression is the single greatest cause of disability and morbidity in young people. In order to reduce its substantial burden on individual..

Project icon

First-Line Management of Youth Depression

The study aims to establish how to best treat adolescents and young adults when they present to mental health clinics with moderate-to-sever..

Project icon

A GLOBAL ALLIANCE TO UNLOCK BRAIN MECHANISMS INFLUENCING SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS THROUGH THE ENIGMA CONSORTIUM

ABSTRACT One million people around the world die from suicide annually. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death for all ages and the sec..

Project icon

ENIGMA Bipolar Initiative: A Global Study of Imaging Genomics & Clinical Outcomes

Grants

Awarded by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Awarded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)

Awarded by Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Awarded by Rosetrees Trust

Awarded by International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA)

Awarded by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Awarded by Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)

Awarded by National Healthcare Group (NHG)

Awarded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

Awarded by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Awarded by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

Awarded by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

Keywords

3202 Clinical Sciences
Behavioral and Social Science
2.1 Biological and Endogenous Factors
5202 Biological Psychology
Serious Mental Illness
Brain Disorders
Neurosciences
Biomedical Imaging
Mental Illness
Depression
32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Mental Health
52 Psychology
Major Depressive Disorder
Clinical Research