University of Helsinki researchers identify five brain profiles for depression

Researchers at the University of Helsinki have identified five distinct brain activity profiles in individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder. By measuring the functional connectivity between brain regions in 263 patients and 75 healthy controls, the study revealed that depression manifests through vastly different biological patterns.

One group exhibited particularly strong inter-region connectivity, which was linked to more severe substance abuse. Conversely, another group showed weak functional connectivity, with symptoms often emphasizing post-traumatic stress disorder.

Director Satu Palva of the Neuroscience Center noted that these contrasting patterns of brain activity occur under the same clinical diagnosis. This discovery suggests that depression is not a biologically uniform disease, potentially explaining why previous studies on the condition have yielded conflicting results.