Call for papers - Neuroimaging in mood disorders

Guest Editors

Henry Chase, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, USA
Stefanie Hassel, PhD, University of Calgary, Canada
Tiffany Ho, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Sivan Kinreich, PhD, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, USA

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 5 January 2026

BMC Psychiatry is calling for submissions to our Collection on Neuroimaging in mood disorders. This Collection aims to highlight research on brain connectivity, biomarkers for diagnosis, and studies exploring the neurobiological changes associated with mood disorders. By advancing our understanding of these conditions through neuroimaging, this Collection seeks to contribute to more effective interventions to improve the overall mental health of individuals affected by mood disorders.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Henry Chase, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, USA

Dr Chase is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, with a long-standing interest in neuroimaging in mood disorders. This includes the use of computational methods for understanding the neural and behavioral basis of reward function in unipolar and bipolar depression.

Stefanie Hassel, PhD, University of Calgary, Canada

Dr Hassel is the Research Manager for the Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression’s (CAN-BIND) Imaging Platform and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. CAN-BIND is a national research program that is dedicated towards shortening the path from depression diagnosis towards effective treatment. She is an internationally trained and experienced cognitive neuroscientist with extensive experience in the acquisition, processing and analyses of fMRI data of patients with psychiatric illnesses, as well as a proficient project manager, with expertise in planning, organizing and monitoring numerous cross-functional, single- and multi-site projects.

Tiffany Ho, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

Dr Ho is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, as well as participating faculty member in the Brain Research Institute and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Graduate Program at UCLA. She draws on principles of affective and developmental neuroscience and leverages cutting-edge methods in cognitive neuroscience to study how experiences of stress and adversity impact the developing brain to inform the etiology and treatment of depression in adolescents.

Sivan Kinreich, PhD, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, USA

Dr Kinreich has a diverse and multidisciplinary background spanning neuroscience, computer science, and electrical engineering/programming. She specializes in brain imaging analysis, exploring emotional, social, and cognitive psychological variables. Her research has focused on brain mechanisms using neuroimaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG), and applying advanced computational algorithms rooted in graph theory and community mathematics. In recent years, Dr Kinreich has concentrated on leveraging innovative AI and machine learning approaches, integrating multimodal data from EEG, structural and functional MRI, and genetic information (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) to identify biomarkers for predicting vulnerability to brain disorders. Additionally, Dr Kinreich holds two patents in fMRI and EEG technologies, which have practical applications for improving human quality of life.

About the Collection

BMC Psychiatry is calling for submissions to our Neuroimaging in mood disorders Collection. This Collection aims to highlight the latest research in neuroimaging and its implications for the identification, characterization, and management of mood disorders. By exploring the interplay between brain structure, function, and psychopathology, we aim to deepen our understanding of conditions such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Mood disorders are often characterized by pervasive mood dysregulation, cognitive impairments, and neurovegetative symptoms that can significantly impair quality of life. Neuroimaging modalities, including functional MRI, PET, electroencephalogram (EEG), and diffusion tensor imaging, have provided unprecedented insights into the neural circuits implicated in emotional regulation, reward processing, and cognitive control. This Collection invites studies that leverage these technologies to unravel the neurobiological underpinnings of mood disorders and explore their diagnostic and prognostic utility. Additionally, we seek to foster a better understanding of how neuroimaging can guide treatment selection, predict therapeutic outcomes, and monitor response to interventions such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and neuromodulation techniques.

Potential subtopics of interest include but are not limited to:

Functional and structural brain abnormalities in mood disorders: insights from neuroimaging studies
Neuroimaging biomarkers for treatment response and prognosis in mood disorders
The role of connectomics and network-based analyses in elucidating mood disorder pathophysiology
Advanced neuroimaging techniques to differentiate mood disorders from other psychiatric and neurological conditions
The impact of comorbidities, such as anxiety or substance use disorders, on neuroimaging findings
Longitudinal neuroimaging studies tracking changes over the course of illness and treatment
Artificial intelligence applications in neuroimaging for detection and treatment of mood disorders
Risk and resilience factors associated with the development of mood disorders

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Neuroimaging in mood disorders" from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.