A meta-analysis on the uncinate fasciculus in depression

Abstract

This meta-analysis aims to investigate whether individuals with depression, and/ or their relatives, have alterations in fractional anisotropy of the left and right uncinate fasciculus (UNC). We further aim to examine whether altered myelination, as evidenced by altered radial diffusivity, of the UNC may be implicated in depression. We lastly aim to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity in findings in the UNC, such as age, sex ratio, duration of illness, patients' current levels of depressive symptoms, percentage of patients with a lifetime co-morbid anxiety disorder, and the diffusion tensor imaging processing pipeline