Temporal Stability of Dynamic Default Mode Network Connectivity Negatively Correlates with Suicidality in Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that the suicidality in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) is related to abnormal brain functional connectivity (FC) patterns. However, little is known about its relationship with dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) based on the assumption that brain FCs fluctuate over time. Temporal stabilities of dFCs within the whole brain and nine key networks were compared between 52 MDD patients and 21 age, sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and temporal correlation coefficients. The alterations in MDD were further correlated with the scores of suicidality item in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD). Compared with HCs, the MDD patients showed a decreased temporal stability of dFC as indicated by a significantly decreased temporal correlation coefficient at the global level, as well as within the default mode network (DMN) and subcortical network. In addition, temporal correlation coefficients of the DMN were found to be significantly negatively correlated with the HAMD suicidality item scores in MDD patients. These results suggest that MDD may be characterized by excessive temporal fluctuations of dFCs within the DMN and subcortical network, and that decreased stability of DMN connectivity may be particularly associated with the suicidality in MDD.

Temporal Stability of the Dynamic Resting-State Functional Brain Network: Current Measures, Clinical Research Progress, and Future Perspectives

“…(4) Temporal clustering coefficient [ 14 , 17 , 21 , 39 , 40 ]: This measure is also called “the temporal correlation coefficient”; it is derived from the definition of analogous metric (clustering coefficient) for conventional static networks. The temporal clustering coefficient estimates the tendency of a dynamic brain network to keep stable over time (its “temporal clustering”) by quantifying the average topological overlap of the network connections between any two consecutive layers (i.e., neighboring time windows).…”

“…Using the measure of temporal clustering coefficient, Zhao et al [ 39 ] found that patients with major depressive disorder showed decreased temporal stability at the global level and in regions of sensory perception systems. Hou et al [ 71 ] and Ouyang et al [ 40 ] found that patients with major depressive disorder showed decreased temporal stability within the striatum and default-mode regions, respectively. Overall, these findings suggest that major depressive disorder may be associated with excessive fluctuation (decreased temporal stability) of functional brain network organizations, and the default-mode areas are most prominently involved.…”

“… Were Other Severe Psychiatric or Somatic Disorders Excluded? Demirtaş et al [ 74 ] DSM-IV Yes Yes Long et al [ 17 ] DSM-IV Not mentioned Not mentioned Wise et al [ 73 ] DSM-IV Yes Yes Zhao et al [ 39 ] DSM-IV Yes Yes Hou et al [ 71 ] DSM-IV Yes Yes Ouyang et al [ 40 ] DSM-IV Yes Yes Zhou et al [ 30 ] DSM-IV Yes Yes Tian et al [ 75 ] DSM-IV Yes Yes Han et al [ 76 ] DSM-IV Yes Yes …”

Temporal Stability of the Dynamic Resting-State Functional Brain Network: a Narrative Review of Current Measures and Clinical Research Progress

“…(4) The temporal clustering coefficient [14,17,21,39,40]: this measure is also called "the temporal correlation coefficient"; it is derived from the definition of analogous metric (clustering coefficient) for conventional static networks. The temporal clustering coefficient estimates the tendency of a dynamic brain network to keep stable over time (its "temporal clustering") by quantifying the average topological overlap of the network connections between any two consecutive layers (i.e., neighboring time windows).…”

“…Using the measure of temporal clustering coefficient, Zhao et al [39] found that patients with major depressive disorder showed decreased temporal stability at the global level and in regions of sensory perception systems. Hou et al [69] and Ouyang et al [40] found that patients with major depressive disorder showed decreased temporal stability within the striatum and default-mode regions, respectively. Overall, these findings suggest that major depressive disorder may be associated with excessive fluctuation (decreased temporal stability) of functional brain network organizations, and the default-mode areas are most prominently involved.…”