Research Clinics

Yale Depression Research Program | Measurement of GABA levels

Measurements of GABA Levels Before and After Treatment for Depression [HIC# 12812]:

Previous work by our group has demonstrated abnormally low levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) in the brains of depressed individuals. The current study uses magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to investigate whether GABA can be used as a marker for specific subtypes of depression and whether GABA levels can be used to predict response to specific antidepressant treatments. MRS uses magnetic fields and waves, similar to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but rather than visualizing the brain, MRS is able to measure the levels of several chemicals and neurotransmitters in the brain. GABA levels in depressed patients are assessed before and after various kinds of treatment for depression, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (see below) or different kinds of medications, to determine whether cortical GABA levels are abnormal in depression and if different treatments have an effect on this chemical.

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