RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the presence of abnormal metabolism in the thalamus and hypothalamus in patients with first-episode depression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty drug-naive patients with first-episode depression and 30 age-matched controls were scanned with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) for Naa, Cho, Cr and mI.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the patients showed significantly reduced mI and mI/Cr of the hypothalamus, reduced mI/Cr of the left thalamus, and lowered Cho, ml, and ml/Cr of the right thalamus (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients with first-episode depression may have myo-inositol and phosphoric acid metabolism disorder in the thalamus and hypothalamus with malfunction of cellular osmotic pressure adjustment mechanism. Abnormal mI/Cr in the thalamus and hypothalamus may represent an important biochemical change in advanced patients with depression.</p>
