Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation between brain activation and the clinical symptoms evaluated by Hamilton depression rating scale(HAMD 24 items) in unipolar depression patients. Methods Using emotional face matching task and fMRI, brain function of 12 female unipolar depressed patients was studied. They were also rated on the Hamilton depression rating scale. The correlation between brain function change and HAMD scores was studied. Results In sad condition of the emotional face matching task, brain function change in four regions were found significantly correlated with HAMD scores negatively: Inferior Frontal Orbital Cortex(L) vs. score of cognition impediment factor; Inferior Frontal Orbital Cortex(R) vs. score of cognition impediment factor and score of sleeping factor; Temporal Inferior cortex(L and R) vs. score of somatic symptom factor. Conclusion Unipolar depression patients’ clinical cognition impediment, especially their unexplained various somatic symptoms may relate with function change in certain brain areas.

Key words: depression, emotion, somatic symptom, Hamilton depression rating scale, functional magnetic resonance imaging