Figure 2. Successful CBT for MDD Is Associated With Decreased Glutamate Levels in the Occipital Cortex.
Unipolar unmedicated depressed subjects in a current major depressive episode received 12 weeks of once-weekly structured CBT with 30 completing both pre- and post-CBT MRS. A. Treatment responders (≥ 50% reduction in HDRS24) showed a significant reduction in occipital glutamate levels [group-by-time interaction (F(1,28) = 6.30, p = 0.02)]. B & C. Similarly, reductions in the secondary depression and anxiety outcome measures, BDI (rs = 0.46, p = 0.01) and HAM-A (rs = 0.48, p = 0.01), were positively correlated with decreased occipital glutamate.