Abnormal functional connectivity in psoriasis patients with depression is associated with their clinical symptoms

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disorder that is related to mental health disorders such as depression. However, few studies have focused on the features of brain activity in psoriasis patients with depression (PPD) and the association between brain activity and disease severity. A total of 29 PPD and 24 healthy controls were involved in this study, and all participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning. The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and the self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to measure clinical symptoms. Compared with HCs, PPD patients showed increased fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) in the Frontal_Mid_L and increased functional connectivity (FC) between the hypothalamus-R and the Cingulum_Mid_R. Correlation analysis suggested a positive correlation between PASI and SDS scores in PPD, while the fALFF and FC values were negatively correlated with their SDS and PASI scores. These brain regions may be associated with the development of depressive symptoms and disease severity in psoriasis patients.

Depression, a major comorbidity of psoriatic disease, is caused by metabolic inflammation

“…47 In another cohort of 29 people with psoriasis and depression and 24 healthy controls, functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning was performed in addition to severity measures of psoriasis (PASI) and a self-assessment of depression (SDS). 48 In comparison to healthy controls, people with psoriasis and depression demonstrated an increased fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation in the left frontal middle brain area (Frontal_Mid_L) and increased functional connectivity between the right hypothalamus region and the right middle cingulum (Cingulum_Mid_R). There was a positive correlation between PASI and SDS in people with psoriasis with depression, while functional connectivity was negatively correlated with SDS and PASI.…”

“…In an investigation using data from the UK biobank and MRI imaging, it was found that thickness in the right precuneus was increased in people with psoriasis compared to controls only when depression was present 47 . In another cohort of 29 people with psoriasis and depression and 24 healthy controls, functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning was performed in addition to severity measures of psoriasis (PASI) and a self‐assessment of depression (SDS) 48 . In comparison to healthy controls, people with psoriasis and depression demonstrated an increased fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation in the left frontal middle brain area (Frontal_Mid_L) and increased functional connectivity between the right hypothalamus region and the right middle cingulum (Cingulum_Mid_R).…”