Utilizing Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to Understand and Treat Depression: Comprehensive Review Paper

Abstract

Diagnosis and prediction of outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD) have remained challenging because of the lack of consequent biomarkers from physiological measurements or medical tests. Major depressive disorder underlies complex neural mechanisms which can be revealed by the use of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). By enlightening changes in brain network connectivity and region-specific activity, fMRI enhances our understanding of depression's pathophysiology, laying the groundwork for more targeted and individualized treatment approaches. This review synthesizes findings from essential studies to demonstrate how MDD is understood, diagnosed, and treated by fMRI. It highlights the ongoing challenges in clinical translation and proposes future directions to optimize the integration of fMRI within the sphere of psychiatry.