Intrinsic regional brain activity differences and its relationship with neurotransmitter and gene expression in postpartum depression: a voxel-based meta-analysis

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Not reported in abstract

• Effect Size: Not reported in abstract

• Primary Outcome: Regional brain activity differences between PPD patients and healthy controls

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Not applicable - neuroimaging biomarker study

• Confidence Interval: Not reported in abstract

Clinical Application

Limited clinical utility as neuroimaging findings require specialized interpretation and don't directly inform treatment decisions Relevant to Australian perinatal mental health services; findings may inform research directions but unlikely to change current RACGP or RANZCP clinical guidelines for PPD management Women with postpartum depression, particularly those being evaluated for treatment response or research participation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Inconsistent findings persist across resting-state functional imaging studies of regional brain alterations in postpartum depression (PPD), while connections to transcriptional profiles and neurotransmitter systems remain largely uncharacterized. METHODS: We performed a whole-brain voxel-wise meta-analysis of resting-state functional imaging studies comparing PPD patients and healthy controls using SDM-PSI software. JuSpace toolbox analyzed atlas-based nuclear imaging-derived neurotransmitter maps, and transcriptional data were sourced from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. RESULTS: Our systematic review identified 12 functional imaging studies (475 PPD patients, 504 controls). Patients with PPD displayed increased resting-state functional activity in the left inferior occipital gyrus and left precuneus as well as decreased resting-state functional activity in the right amygdala and left precentral gyrus. These functional alterations spatially overlapped with serotonergic, dopaminergic, and VAChT systems. Transcriptional analysis revealed PPD-related gene enrichments in ion channel function (transmembrane transport, gated/passive channels) and channel complexes. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis revealed functional alterations within the DMN, limbic, and primary sensorimotor systems in PPD patients. These changes were linked to neurotransmitter alterations and genetic modulations underlying brain dysfunction. Collectively, these findings advance mechanistic understanding of PPD pathophysiology.

References

1. 1.Chen, G., Tang, X., Chen, P., Chen, R., Chen, C., Zhang, Y., Wang, Z., Li, F., Fei, J., Lu, D., Wang, X., Xiao, X., Wang, Y., & Huang, X. (2026). Intrinsic regional brain activity differences and its relationship with neurotransmitter and gene expression in postpartum depression: a voxel-based meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291726103651