Aripiprazole-induced gray matter growth in a patient with major depressive disorder with panic disorder.

To the Editor: Aripiprazole, a D2 partial agonist antipsychotic, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for major depressive disorder (MDD) add-on therapy. Its effects are believed to be related to its 5-HT1A partial agonist, 5-HT2C antagonist, and 5-HT2A antagonist properties. Here, I present a case of MDD with panic disorder in which improvement of symptoms was seen after 6 weeks of aripiprazole treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) structural analysis also revealed gray matter growth and brain volume increase within 6 weeks.