Brain monoamine oxidase A in seasonal affective disorder and treatment with bright light therapy

• DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0227-2
• Publication Date: 2018-09-21T20:51:55Z
• Authors: Marie Spies; Gregory M. James; Chrysoula Vraka; Cécile Philippe; Marius Hienert; Gregor Gryglewski; Arkadiusz Komorowski; Alexander Kautzky; Leo Silberbauer; Verena Pichler; Georg S. Kranz; Lukas Nics; Theresa Balber; Pia Baldinger-Melich; Thomas Vanicek; Benjamin Spurny; Edda Winkler-Pjrek; Wolfgang Wadsak; Markus Mitterhauser; Marcus Hacker; Siegfried Kasper; Rupert Lanzenberger; Dietmar Winkler
• Keywords: Light therapy; Pathophysiology; Monoamine oxidase A

Abstract Increased cerebral monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) levels have been shown in non-seasonal depression using positron emission tomography (PET). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a sub-form of major depressive and typically treated with bright light therapy (BLT). The serotonergic system affected by season light. Hence, this study aims to assess the relevance brain MAO-A pathophysiology treatment SAD. Changes distribution (1) SAD comparison healthy controls (HC), (2) after BLT (3) between seasons, were investigated 24 patients 27 HC [ 11 C]harmine PET. PET scans performed fall/winter before 3 weeks placebo-controlled BLT, as well spring/summer. Cerebral volume (V T , an index density) did not differ at any three time-points. However, V decreased from spring/summer group ( F 1, 187.84 = 4.79, p < 0.050), while showed no change. In addition, but placebo, resulted significant reduction 208.92 25.96, 0.001). This first demonstrate influence on human vivo. Furthermore, we show that may lack seasonal dynamics levels. cross-sectional difference HC, contrast studies depression, be due milder symptoms