Background: Depression is frequently associated with organic changes and brain damages. The
anterior, medial and pulvinar nuclei groups of thalamus are diffusely connected with the zones of
the telencephalon which are involved in the regulation of the emotional status of a person (limbic
cortex). Due to this close morpho-functional association of thalamus and limbic system, the aim of
this paper was to examine whether there is a correlation of the size and shape of the thalamus and
the intensity of depressive symptoms in patients with depressive disorder (F32). Methods: The
study involved a total of thirty-one people with a depressive disorder. The diagnosis of depression
was based on the DSM-IV criteria, and the intensity of depression was assessed using the Beck
Depression Scale (second revision). Thalamus size was determined on axial non-contrast CT scans
on the largest cross-sectional area. Statistical data were processed in the SPSS 16.0 software
package. Statistical conclusions were presented on the basis of a two-tailed p < 0.05. Results: In our
study we observed that a higher intensity of depression was associated with a lower cross section of
the left thalamus (regression coefficient B = -0.015, p = 0.025). We emphasize that in our study a
negative correlation of the shape/perimeter of thalamus on the left hemisphere of the brain and the
intensity of depressive symptoms was also ascertained (regression coefficient B = -0.077, p =
0.025). We have not found the statistically significant relationship between the size and the shape of
the thalamus with the intensity of depression in the right hemispheres of the brain. Conclusion: In
our research, we noticed that a higher intensity of depression was associated with a smaller surface
area and perimeter of the thalamus on the left hemisphere of the brain. Our findings, similar to the
findings of other authors in the literature, indicate that the size and shape of the thalamus could be
used as biomarkers of the emergence and the intensity of depressive symptoms in depressive
disorder.
