Alexandra Winter
A5034175793- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Mental Health Research Topics
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Child Abuse and Trauma
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting
- Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
University of Münster
2021-2025
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
2022
University Hospital Münster
2022
University Medical Center Groningen
2005
University of Groningen
2005
Biological psychiatry aims to understand mental disorders in terms of altered neurobiological pathways. However, for one the most prevalent and disabling disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD), no informative biomarkers have been identified.
We investigated the links between familial loading, preadolescent temperament, and internalizing externalizing problems in adolescence, hereby distinguishing effects on maladjustment general versus dimension-specific either or problems.In a population-based sample of 2230 preadolescents (10-11 years) loading (parental lifetime psychopathology) offspring temperament were assessed at baseline by parent report, psychopathology 2.5-years follow-up self-report, teacher report report. used...
Abstract Major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar (BD), and schizophrenia spectrum (SSD, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder) overlap in symptomatology, risk factors, genetics, other biological measures. Based on previous findings, it remains unclear what transdiagnostic regional gray matter volume (GMV) alterations exist across these disorders, with which factors they are associated. GMV (3-T magnetic resonance imaging) was compared between healthy controls (HC; n = 110), DSM-IV-TR...
Abstract Up to 70% of patients with major depressive disorder present psychomotor disturbance (PmD), but at the time understanding its pathophysiology is limited. In this study, we capitalized on a large sample examine neural correlates PmD in depression. This study included 820 healthy participants and 699 remitted ( n = 402) or current 297) Patients were further categorized as having retardation, agitation, no PmD. We compared resting-state functional connectivity (ROI-to-ROI) between...
Abstract Factorial dimensions and neurobiological underpinnings of formal thought disorders (FTD) have been extensively investigated in schizophrenia spectrum (SSD). However, FTD are also highly prevalent other disorders. Still, there is a lack knowledge about transdiagnostic, structural brain correlates FTD. In N = 1071 patients suffering from DSM-IV major depressive disorder, bipolar or SSD, we calculated psychopathological factor model based on the SAPS SANS scales. We tested association...
Abstract Psychiatric disorders show heterogeneous symptoms and trajectories, with current nosology not accurately reflecting their molecular etiology the variability symptomatic overlap within between diagnostic classes. This heterogeneity impedes timely targeted treatment. Our study aimed to identify psychiatric patient clusters that share clinical genetic features may profit from similar therapies. We used high-dimensional data clustering on deep transdiagnostic groups in a discovery...
Abstract Neuroimaging research has yet to elucidate whether reported gray matter volume (GMV) alterations in major depressive disorder (MDD) exist already before the onset of first episode. Recruitment presently healthy individuals with a subsequent transition MDD (converters) is extremely challenging but crucial gain insights into neurobiological vulnerability. Hence, we compared converters patients and sustained controls (HC) distinguish pre-existing markers from those emerging later...
Childhood maltreatment (CM) represents a potent risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD), including poorer treatment response. Altered resting-state connectivity in the fronto-limbic system has been reported maltreated individuals. However, previous results smaller samples differ largely regarding localization and direction of effects.We included healthy depressed [n = 624 participants with MDD; n 701 control (HC) participants] that underwent functional MRI measurements provided...
Abstract Background Two prominent risk factors for major depressive disorder (MDD) are childhood maltreatment (CM) and familial MDD. Despite having these factors, there individuals who maintain mental health, i.e. resilient, whereas others develop It is unclear which brain morphological alterations associated with this kind of resilience. Interaction analyses diagnosis status needed that can account complex adaptation processes, to identify neural correlates Methods We analyzed structural...
Abstract Aberrant brain structural connectivity in major depressive disorder (MDD) has been repeatedly reported, yet many previous studies lack integration of different features MDD with multivariate modeling approaches. In n = 595 patients, we used equation (SEM) to test the intercorrelations between anhedonia, anxiety, neuroticism, and cognitive control one comprehensive model. We then separately analyzed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures association those clinical variables, finally...
Abstract Cognitive deficits are central attendant symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) with a crucial impact in patients’ everyday life. Thus, it is particular clinical importance to understand their pathophysiology. The aim this study was investigate possible relationship between brain structure and cognitive performance MDD patients well-characterized sample. N = 1007 participants ( 482, healthy controls (HC): HC 525) were selected from the FOR2107 cohort for diffusion-tensor...
Abstract Stressful life events (SLEs) in adulthood are a risk factor for various disorders such as depression, cancer or infections. Part of this is mediated through pathways altering brain physiology and structure. There lack longitudinal studies examining associations between SLEs structural changes. High‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging data 212 healthy subjects were acquired at baseline after 2 years. Voxel‐based morphometry was used to identify using the Life Events Questionnaire...
Identifying brain alterations associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in young people is critical to understanding their development improving early intervention prevention. The ENIGMA Suicidal Thoughts Behaviours (ENIGMA-STB) consortium analyzed neuroimaging data harmonized across sites examine morphology STBs youth. We performed analyses three separate stages, samples ranging from most least homogeneous terms of suicide assessment instrument mental disorder. First, a sample...
Cognitive dysfunction and brain structural connectivity alterations have been observed in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about their interrelation. The present study follows a network approach to evaluate cognition-related networks.
Abstract Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) show alterations in both gray matter volume (GMV) and white (WM) integrity compared healthy controls (HC). However, it remains unclear whether the phenotypically distinct BD subtypes (BD-I BD-II) also exhibit brain structural differences. This study investigated GMV WM differences between HC, BD-I, BD-II, along clinical genetic associations. N = 73 n 63 BD-II patients 136 matched HC were included. Using voxel-based morphometry tract-based spatial...
Depressive symptoms seem to be interrelated in a complex and self-reinforcing way. To gain better understanding of this complexity, the inclusion theoretically relevant constructs (such as risk protective factors) offers comprehensive view into mechanisms underlying depression. Cross-sectional data from individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (N = 986) healthy controls 1049) were analyzed. Participants self-reported their symptoms, well several factors factors. Regularized...
Abstract Recurrences of depressive episodes in major disorder (MDD) can be explained by the diathesis-stress model, suggesting that stressful life events (SLEs) trigger MDD individuals with pre-existing vulnerabilities. However, longitudinal neurobiological impact SLEs on gray matter volume (GMV) and its interaction early-life adversity remains unresolved. In 754 participants aged 18–65 years (362 patients; 392 healthy controls; HCs), we assessed associations between (Life Events...
Abstract Background: Individuals at risk for bipolar disorder (BD) have a wide range of genetic and non-genetic factors, like positive family history BD or (sub)threshold affective symptoms. Yet, it is unclear whether these individuals those diagnosed with share similar gray matter brain alterations. Methods: In 410 male female participants aged 17–35 years, we compared volume (3T MRI) between (as assessed using the EPI scale; n = 208), patients DSM-IV-TR diagnosis ( 87), healthy controls...
Abstract While most people are right-handed, a minority left-handed or mixed-handed. It has been suggested that mental and developmental disorders associated with increased prevalence of left-handedness mixed-handedness. However, substantial heterogeneity exists across disorders, indicating not all considerable shift away from right-handedness. Increased frequencies in left- mixed-handedness have also more severe clinical symptoms, symptom severity rather than diagnosis explains the high...