Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Linked To Increased Grey Matter In Emotion Processing Regions

Psychotherapy leads to measurable changes successful encephalon structure. Researchers astatine Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and nan University of Münster person demonstrated this for nan first clip successful a study successful "Translational Psychiatry" by utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy. The squad analyzed nan brains of 30 patients suffering from acute depression. After therapy, astir of them showed changes successful areas responsible for processing emotions. The observed effects are akin to those already known from studies connected medication.

Around 280 cardinal group suffer from terrible slump worldwide. This slump leads to changes successful nan encephalon wide of nan anterior hippocampus and amygdala. Both areas are portion of nan limbic strategy and are chiefly responsible for processing and controlling emotions. In psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an established method for treating depression.

CBT leads to affirmative changes successful thought patterns, emotions and behavior. We presume that this process is besides linked to functional and structural changes successful nan brain. The effect has already been demonstrated pinch therapy involving medicine aliases electrostimulation, but has not yet been proven for psychotherapy successful general."

Professor Ronny Redlich, Head, Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology astatine MLU

Now researchers astatine MLU and nan University of Münster person succeeded successful demonstrating this successful an extended study involving 30 group suffering from acute depression. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was utilized to analyse nan participants' brains earlier and aft 20 sessions of therapy. "MRI scans supply accusation astir nan size, style and location of tissue," explains scientist Esther Zwiky from MLU. In summation to nan MRI scans, objective interviews were conducted to analyse nan symptoms of nan disease, specified arsenic trouble successful identifying and describing feelings. In addition, 30 patient power subjects, who did not acquisition therapy, participated successful nan study for comparison purposes.

The study provided clear results: 19 of nan 30 patients were recovered to person hardly immoderate acute depressive symptoms aft therapy. The researchers were besides able, for nan first time, to archive circumstantial anatomical changes. "We observed a important summation successful nan measurement of grey matter successful nan near amygdala and nan correct anterior hippocampus," says Esther Zwiky. The researchers recovered a clear relationship to nan symptoms: individuals pinch a greater summation successful grey matter successful nan amygdala besides showed a stronger simplification successful their affectional dysregulation.

"Cognitive behavioral therapy was already known to work. Now, for nan first time, we person a reliable biomarker for nan effect of psychotherapy connected encephalon structure. Put simply, psychotherapy changes nan brain," explains Ronny Redlich. However, Redlich stresses that location is nary fundamentally amended aliases worse curen – medicine useful amended for immoderate people, while electrostimulation useful very good for others; for others, CBT tin beryllium astir helpful. "It is truthful each nan much encouraging that we were capable to show successful our study that psychotherapy is an arsenic effective replacement from a aesculapian and technological standpoint," says Redlich.

The study was supported German Research Foundation (DFG), nan Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and nan authorities of Saxony-Anhalt.