Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the specific functional brain abnormalities in CLBP with comorbid depression using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Totally 14 CLBP patients with depression, 25 CLBP patients without depression, and 24 matched controls were included. The alterations in spontaneous brain activity and network connectivity were examined through regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC) analysis based on region of interest. We conducted analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc analyses among the three groups with age and gender as covariates. Correlational analyses were performed between central neuroplasticity and clinical variables of CLBP.
Different ReHo values were found in extensive brain regions especially in prefrontal cortex regions including right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) regions across the three groups. Moreover, ReHo values were associated with depression, pain catastrophizing and back pain related disability. Altered FC between DLPFC and posterior cerebellar lobe as well as the orbitofrontal cortex were also observed.
CLBP with comorbid depression manifests aberrant regional homogeneity in brain regions involving DLPFC, and disturbed functional brain networks are demonstrated between DLPFC and other areas. Central neural alterations correlate with clinical outcomes such as pain related disability, pain catastrophizing, and depression.
Our findings provide additional insights for identifying potential biomarkers of refractory CLBP with depression comorbidity, thereby facilitating pain phenotype stratification and optimal pain management.
depression
functional magnetic resonance imaging
