Attenuated Visual Function in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder.

BACKGROUND

We sought to investigate visual function, primarily, and structural changes in retinal ganglion cells, secondarily, in patients with major depressive disorder.

METHODS

A total of 50 normal participants and 49 patients with major depressive disorder were included in this cross-sectional study. The participants underwent 24-2 standard automated perimetry and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

RESULTS

The pattern standard deviation (PSD) in the visual field test was higher in the major depressive disorder patients than in the normal control subjects ( = 0.017). The patients with major depressive disorder showed reduced minimum ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness relative to the normal control participants ( = 0.015). The average score on the Hamilton Depression Rating scale showed a significant correlation with the PSD, minimum GCIPL thickness, and inferior GCIPL thickness (r = 0.265, = 0.009; r = -0.239, = 0.017; and r = -0.204, = 0.043, respectively). The multivariate analysis of factors associated with PSD showed old age and a high Hamilton Depression Rating score to be relevant ( = 0.002 and 0.028, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Visual function was decreased and the GCIPL thickness was reduced in major depressive disorder patients. The retinal neurodegenerative process in depression might be considered in patients with depression.