Assessment of Brain Volume and Cortical Thickness in People with HIV and Major Depressive Disorder

This study aims to examine neuroanatomical differences associated with depressive symptoms in people with HIV (PWH) by comparing three groups: depressed PWH (PWH Dep+), non-depressed PWH (PWH Dep−), and HIV-negative controls. The primary goal is to explore specific alterations in brain volume and cortical thickness linked to depressive symptomatology in PWH.

A total of 61 male participants (28 PWH, 33 controls) underwent psychiatric evaluation and high-resolution structural MRI scanning. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and cortical thickness analyses were conducted, with age and education considered as covariates. Participants were classified into PWH Dep+ and PWH Dep− based on depression scales.

The PWH Dep+ group exhibited increased gray matter volume in the left anterior cingulate cortex and decreased cortical thickness in the left frontal pole compared to controls. In contrast, PWH Dep− participants showed increased cortical thickness in the bilateral postcentral gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus. Additionally, volume reductions in the middle occipital and middle temporal gyri distinguished PWH Dep+ from PWH Dep−.

Depression in PWH is associated with structural brain changes, particularly in frontal and occipital regions. Although causality cannot be inferred due to the cross-sectional design, these results may enhance our understanding of the neuropathological mechanisms underlying depression in PWH. The findings should be interpreted with caution, given the relatively small sample size and the exclusion of female participants.