Diagnostic accuracy of mood disorders: qMRI vs. Clinical Evaluation. A systematic review.

Abstract

According to the classification by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) reflected in the DSM-5, mood disorders are conditions characterized by severe and prolonged disturbances in mood and emotions—such as depression, mania, or euphoria—which impair functional capacity and distort life perspective. They are primarily divided into depressive and bipolar disorders. These conditions represent a significant global public health problem. The 2021 Global Burden of Disease study reported 357.44 million incident cases of depressive disorders and a prevalence of 332 million, causing around 56 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Traditionally, diagnosis relies on clinical assessment, a process that can be subjective and vary among clinicians. This subjectivity can lead to diagnostic errors, delaying appropriate treatment. Therefore, a more objective diagnostic tool is needed. This systematic review evaluated the scientific literature to compare the diagnostic accuracy of clinical assessment with quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI). An exhaustive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2007 and 2025. Specific keywords in English and Spanish were used, applying defined inclusion/exclusion criteria and considering APA (DSM) guidelines. qMRI offers the possibility of obtaining objective measures of brain structure and function, potentially identifying biomarkers by detecting subtle alterations associated with these disorders. The main objective of this project was to systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of qMRI (preferably with 1.5 Tesla scanners), compare it with clinical assessment and anamnesis, and determine its sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value in diagnosing mood disorders.