This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on brain neurobiology, neuroplasticity, and psychometric parameters in individuals with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls. Three MRI scans, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (sBDNF) analyses, and psychometric assessments were conducted from September 2020 to July 2021. Analysis of data from 18 MDD patients and 28 healthy individuals revealed no significant changes over time in brain morphology or depressive symptoms in either group, despite varying lockdown stringency. While this contrasts with initial expectations, the multimodal assessment provides valuable insights for future research on the long-term effects of restriction measures on mental health.

Jakob Unterholzner, Alexander Kautzky, Murray Bruce Reed, Theresa Friederike Wechsler, Valentin Popper, Benjamin Spurny-Dworak, Peter Stöhrmann, Manfred Klöbl, Nimmy Varghese, Andreas Mühlberger, Anne Eckert, Richard Frey, Dan Rujescu, Rupert Lanzenberger, Thomas Vanicek