Objective:This study uses two markers of resting-state functional MRI (r-fMRI) to investigate changes in spontaneous neural activity and their correlation with postpartum depression (PPD) severity.Methods:A total of 15 individuals with PPD, who met the diagnostic criteria for DSM-5 unipolar depression, 24-Item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD 24) scores greater than 20, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score≥12, and 16 postpartum healthy mothers (control group) matched with age and education were examined using r-fMRI. Two-sample t-test was used to compare the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) values between groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between the ALFF and ReHo of the abnormal brain region and the HAMD 24 and EPDS scores. Results:Compared with the healthy control (HC), PPD showed increased ALFF in the right cerebellum anterior lobe culmen and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and decreased ALFF in the right parietal lobe (individual voxel P<0.005, cluster size >10 voxels, Alphasim correction). PPD had increased ReHo values in the left superior?frontal?gyrus,?orbital?part, inferior?frontal?gyrus,?orbital?part, middle?frontal?gyrus, precuneus, inferior?parietal lobule than HC. Decreased ReHo values were found in the right inferior?occipital?gyrus, inferior?frontal?gyrus, frontal lobule and left cerebellum inferior semi-lunar lobule (individual voxel P<0.005, cluster size>10 voxels, Alphasim correction). The ALFF value of the left DLPFC was positively correlated with the HAMD 24 score in PPD ( r=0.585, P=0.022). Age, body mass index and education years of each subject was included as covariates, partial correlation coefficient was still statistically significant ( r = 0.561, P = 0.046). Conclusion:This r-fMRI study suggested that changes in the spontaneous neural activity of these regions were related to emotional responses. PPD cases with high ALFF values in the left DLPFC had severe depression.

Objective:This study uses two markers of resting-state functional MRI (r-fMRI) to investigate changes in spontaneous neural activity and their correlation with postpartum depression (PPD) severity.Methods:A total of 15 individuals with PPD, who met the diagnostic criteria for DSM-5 unipolar depression, 24-Item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD 24) scores greater than 20, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score≥12, and 16 postpartum healthy mothers (control group) matched with age and education were examined using r-fMRI. Two-sample t-test was used to compare the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) values between groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between the ALFF and ReHo of the abnormal brain region and the HAMD 24 and EPDS scores. Results:Compared with the healthy control (HC), PPD showed increased ALFF in the right cerebellum anterior lobe culmen and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and decreased ALFF in the right parietal lobe (individual voxel P<0.005, cluster size >10 voxels, Alphasim correction). PPD had increased ReHo values in the left superior?frontal?gyrus,?orbital?part, inferior?frontal?gyrus,?orbital?part, middle?frontal?gyrus, precuneus, inferior?parietal lobule than HC. Decreased ReHo values were found in the right inferior?occipital?gyrus, inferior?frontal?gyrus, frontal lobule and left cerebellum inferior semi-lunar lobule (individual voxel P<0.005, cluster size>10 voxels, Alphasim correction). The ALFF value of the left DLPFC was positively correlated with the HAMD 24 score in PPD ( r=0.585, P=0.022). Age, body mass index and education years of each subject was included as covariates, partial correlation coefficient was still statistically significant ( r = 0.561, P = 0.046). Conclusion:This r-fMRI study suggested that changes in the spontaneous neural activity of these regions were related to emotional responses. PPD cases with high ALFF values in the left DLPFC had severe depression.