{
  "id": 5616432,
  "title": "Treatment-resistant depression linked to reduced brain entropy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/treatment-resistant-depression-linked-to-reduced-brain-entropy",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-04T18:00:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PsyPost",
    "slug": "psypost",
    "url": "https://www.psypost.org/brain-imaging-reveals-reduced-neural-complexity-in-treatment-resistant-depressio/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent brain imaging study has revealed that individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression exhibit reduced brain entropy, indicating a loss of neural complexity. Treatment-resistant depression, a severe form of major depressive disorder, is characterized by an inability to achieve remission despite multiple trials of antidepressant therapy. This condition is associated with persistent low mood, loss of pleasure, cognitive difficulties, and an increased risk of relapse and suicidal thoughts. Researchers from Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan studied 48 adults diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression and 38 healthy adults, all matched for age and sex. The participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging while resting with their eyes closed to capture their spontaneous brain activity. The study found that patients with treatment-resistant depression displayed reduced neural entropy in three specific brain regions, including the right angular gyrus, left cerebellar Crus II, and median raphe nucleus (which produces serotonin). The more stringent threshold revealed reduced entropy in 24 additional brain regions, affecting major brain systems such as the default mode network, salience network, and reward network. These networks are responsible for processing emotions, assigning value to stimuli, and navigating social environments. The extensive pattern of reduced neural complexity suggests a global disruption of neural flexibility in treatment-resistant depression, rather than a localized issue. Preliminary evidence indicates a potential correlation between higher entropy in a specific cerebellum region and more severe treatment resistance, though this finding was not statistically significant. Further research is needed to explore the biological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant depression and develop targeted interventions.",
  "summary": "Patients with treatment-resistant depression show a widespread loss of complexity in their resting brain activity. A recent brain imaging study suggests this reduced neural entropy could serve as a biological marker for the severe, chronic illness.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}