Sex Differences in CBF in a Pediatric Sample of Depression: a SPECT Analysis

The present study aims to determine whether there are differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) levels in females versus males with depression.The data for this study was derived from an archival SPECT database. Participants in the female group (n = 140, Mage = 14.48) were like those in the male group (n = 241, Mage = 13.77). Multiple independent t-tests were performed between the female and male groups on the CBF levels in the left and right sides of the cerebellum, cingulum, frontal, occipital, parietal, and temporal lobes, and subcortical areas.CBF levels in males were higher than those of females in the following areas: the left and right sides of the cerebellum, and occipital lobe, the right side of the parietal lobe, and the temporal lobe. CBF levels in females were higher than those of males in the following areas: the left and right sides of the cingulum, the vermis, and the subcortical areas.While females had higher CBF in subcortical areas, the findings regarding higher CBF levels in males raise questions regarding prior literature which suggested that females have higher CBF than males in studies of depression subjects. These differences may be due to the differences in how males and females cope with depressive symptoms. Sex differences in CBF may suggest a contributing factor in the relationship between sex and responsiveness to antidepressant medication, ketamine treatment, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.