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Fitzgerald PJ. Affective disorders and the loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potential: Serotonin and beyond. Neurosci Lett 2024; 827:137734. [PMID: 38499279 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Identifying additional noninvasive biomarkers for affective disorders, such as unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), could aid in the diagnosis and treatment of these prevalent and debilitating neuropsychiatric conditions. One such candidate biomarker is the loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potential (LDAEP), an event-related potential that measures responsiveness of the auditory cortex to different intensities of sound. The LDAEP has been associated with MDD and BD, including therapeutic response to particular classes of antidepressant drugs, while also correlating with several other neuropsychiatric disorders. It has been suggested that increased values of the LDAEP indicate low central serotonergic neurotransmission, further implicating this EEG measure in depression. Here, we briefly review the literature on the LDAEP in affective disorders, including its association with serotonergic signaling, as well as with that of other neurotransmitters such as dopamine. We summarize key findings on the LDAEP and the genetics of these neurotransmitters, as well as prediction of response to particular classes of antidepressants in MDD, including SSRIs versus noradrenergic agents. The possible relationship between this EEG measure and suicidality is addressed. We also briefly analyze acute pharmacologic studies of serotonin and/or dopamine precursor depletion and the LDAEP. In conclusion, the existing literature suggests that serotonin and norepinephrine may modulate the LDAEP in an opposing manner, and that this event-related marker may be of use in predicting response to chronic treatment with particular pharmacologic agents in the context of affective disorders, such as MDD and BD, including in the presence of suicidality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Fitzgerald
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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Yoon S, Kim Y, Lee SH. Does the Loudness Dependence of Auditory Evoked Potential Predict Response to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors?: A Meta-analysis. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 19:254-261. [PMID: 33888654 PMCID: PMC8077049 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2021.19.2.254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective Loudness of dependence of the auditory evoked potential (LDAEP) is an electroencephalogram-based measure that represents amplitude changes of auditory evoked potentials in primary auditory cortex. Several narrative reviews argued that pre-treatment LDAEP values predict responses to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This study aims to quantify the overall relationship between baseline LDAEP values and treatment response to SSRIs in patients with depression and generalized anxiety disorders, evidenced by clinical symptoms reductions, across multiple studies. Methods In our meta-analysis, seven articles with a total sample of 241 patients were included. Results Our results showed that stronger baseline LDAEP values predicted favorable response to SSRIs for depression and anxiety, with a moderate effect size. Conclusion The current results support the idea that LDAEP is a promising biomarker for SSRIs treatment prediction in patients with depression and generalized anxiety disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunkyung Yoon
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Yourim Kim
- Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Goyang, Korea
| | - Seung-Hwan Lee
- Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Goyang, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea
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Kim JS, Kim S, Lee HS, Kwon YJ, Lee HY, Shim SH. Auditory evoked potentials and suicidal behaviors in patients with major depressive disorders. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7255. [PMID: 33790320 PMCID: PMC8012352 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86602-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP) has been proposed as a biological marker of central serotonergic activity related to suicides. This study’s objective was to analyze the difference in LDAEP between depressed patients with suicide attempts (SA) and suicidal ideation (SI). It included 130 participants (45 depressed patients with SA, 49 depressed patients with SI, and 36 healthy controls) aged > 18 years who exhibited LDAEP during electroencephalography. Psychological characteristics and event-related potentials of the three groups were compared. There was no significant difference in LDAEP between major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with SA and SI (p = 0.59). MDD patients with SI, who attempted suicide had significantly lower LDAEP than healthy controls (p = 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). However, the significance disappeared when psychological characteristics were controlled. Our results suggest that LDAEP might not be possible biomarkers for suicidal behaviors in patients with MDD. Further studies to assess the biological basis of suicide and identify the underlying dimensions that mediate the relationship between the biological basis and suicidal behaviors will be needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Sun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, 31 Suncheonhyang 6-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, 31151, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungkean Kim
- Department of Human-Computer Interaction, Hanyang University, Ansan-si, 15588, South Korea
| | - Ho-Sung Lee
- Department of Pulmonology and Allergy, Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Joon Kwon
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, 31 Suncheonhyang 6-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, 31151, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa Young Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, 31 Suncheonhyang 6-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, 31151, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Hoon Shim
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, 31 Suncheonhyang 6-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, 31151, Republic of Korea.
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Ehlers CL, Phillips E, Kim C, Wills DN, Karriker-Jaffe KJ, Gilder DA. CR-19-0950: Event-related responses to alcohol-related stimuli in Mexican-American young adults: Relation to age, gender, comorbidity and "dark side" symptoms. Drug Alcohol Depend 2019; 202:76-86. [PMID: 31323376 PMCID: PMC6685752 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electrophysiological variables may represent sensitive biomarkers of vulnerability to or endophenotypes for alcohol use disorders (AUD). METHODS Young adults (age 18-30 yrs, n = 580) of Mexican American heritage were assessed with the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism and event-related oscillations (EROs) generated in response to a task that used pictures of objects, food, and alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related drinks as stimuli. RESULTS Decreases in energy in the alpha and beta frequencies and higher phase synchrony within cortical brain areas were seen in response to the alcohol-related as compared to the non-alcohol-related stimuli. Differences in ERO energy and synchrony responses to alcohol-related stimuli were also found as a function of age, sex, AUD status and comorbidity. Age-related decreases in energy and increases in synchrony were found. Females had significantly higher energy and lower synchrony values than males. Participants with AUD had higher synchrony values specifically in the beta frequencies, whereas those with a lifetime diagnosis of conduct disorder and/or antisocial personality disorder had lower alpha power and synchrony, and those with any affective disorder had lower ERO energy in the beta frequencies. Those with substance-associated affective "dark-side" symptoms had slower reaction times to the task, lower energy in the beta frequencies, lower local synchrony in the theta frequencies, and higher long-range synchrony in the delta and beta frequencies. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that EROs recorded to alcohol-related stimuli may be biomarkers of comorbid risk factors, symptoms and disorders associated with AUD that also can differentiate those with "dark-side symptoms".
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy L. Ehlers
- Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA,Corresponding author: Dr. Cindy L. Ehlers, TSRI, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA, Telephone: (858) 784-7058; Fax: (858) 784-7409;
| | - Evelyn Phillips
- Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Corinne Kim
- Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Derek N. Wills
- Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - David A. Gilder
- Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Kim JS, Kim DW, Kwon YJ, Lee HY, Kim S, Shim SH. The relationship between auditory evoked potentials and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adult patients with major depressive disorder. Int J Psychophysiol 2019; 142:50-56. [PMID: 31207261 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Loudness dependence of auditory evoked potential (LDAEP) has been proposed as a biological marker for central serotonergic activity in depressive illness. A recent study has suggested that serotonin plays an important role in impulsivity and emotional sensitivity that are prominent clinical manifestations in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The objective of this study was to examine the association between LDAEP and ADHD symptoms in major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS A total of 60 participants (40 subjects with MDD and 20 healthy controls) aged >18 years who had LDAEPs performed during electroencephalograms were included in this study. ADHD symptoms, depressive, and anxiety symptoms were evaluated. Psychological characteristics and event-related potentials (ERP) were compared among three groups: depression with ADHD symptoms, depression without ADHD symptoms, and healthy controls. RESULTS MDD subjects with ADHD symptoms (N = 20) showed significantly lower LDAEP levels than those without ADHD symptoms (N = 20) and healthy controls (N = 20). LDAEP differences between MDD subjects without ADHD symptoms and healthy controls were not statistically significant. In partial correlation analyses adjusted for age and sex, significant correlations of psychological scales of depression, ADHD symptoms, and LDAEPs were found. CONCLUSION Results of the present study suggest that LDAEP can reflect adult ADHD symptoms in MDD. Auditory evoked potential appears to be a promising candidate as an evaluation tool for inattention and poor impulse control as well as emotional sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Sun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Won Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Joon Kwon
- Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa Young Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungkean Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hoon Shim
- Department of Psychiatry, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
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Tlumak AI, Durrant JD, Delgado RE. The Effect of Stimulus Intensity and Carrier Frequency on Auditory Middle- and Long-Latency Evoked Potentials Using a Steady-State-Response Approach. Am J Audiol 2016; 25:62-74. [PMID: 26999323 DOI: 10.1044/2016_aja-15-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to measure magnitude changes of auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) and respective transient middle- and long-latency responses as a function of stimulus intensity and carrier frequency. The literature lacks clear consensus, including relationship to loudness. METHOD A cohort of 48 adults with normal hearing was examined from a companion study (Tlumak, Durrant, & Delgado, 2015) on effects of aging. ASSRs were elicited by repeated tone-burst stimuli presented at rates of 40 and 0.75 Hz at 3 frequencies and 5 levels of stimulus intensity. The design also permitted scrutiny of any gender bias to the results. RESULTS Similar to derived transient response findings, ASSR magnitude (harmonic sum) systematically increased with intensity. Input-output function only at 0.75 Hz approximated a log-log linear function. However, slopes fell well below that of doubling of loudness per 10 dB SPL. Results failed to demonstrate significance as a function of carrier frequency and gender for both repetition rates. CONCLUSION Effects of stimulus intensity, carrier frequency, and gender on ASSRs were similar to those of their transient counterparts. Findings remain disappointing for objective loudness estimation. Results suggest only a clear linkage to the long-latency response and the 0.75-Hz magnitude but require careful consideration of limitations/underlying mechanisms when measuring loudness-related effects.
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Towards a Crossmodal Exploration of Cognitive Deficits in Psychopathology. Psychol Belg 2014. [DOI: 10.5334/pb.as] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Maurage P, Campanella S. Experimental and clinical usefulness of crossmodal paradigms in psychiatry: an illustration from emotional processing in alcohol-dependence. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:394. [PMID: 23898250 PMCID: PMC3722513 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Accepted: 07/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Crossmodal processing (i.e., the construction of a unified representation stemming from distinct sensorial modalities inputs) constitutes a crucial ability in humans' everyday life. It has been extensively explored at cognitive and cerebral levels during the last decade among healthy controls. Paradoxically however, and while difficulties to perform this integrative process have been suggested in a large range of psychopathological states (e.g., schizophrenia and autism), these crossmodal paradigms have been very rarely used in the exploration of psychiatric populations. The main aim of the present paper is thus to underline the experimental and clinical usefulness of exploring crossmodal processes in psychiatry. We will illustrate this proposal by means of the recent data obtained in the crossmodal exploration of emotional alterations in alcohol-dependence. Indeed, emotional decoding impairments might have a role in the development and maintenance of alcohol-dependence, and have been extensively investigated by means of experiments using separated visual or auditory stimulations. Besides these unimodal explorations, we have recently conducted several studies using audio-visual crossmodal paradigms, which has allowed us to improve the ecological validity of the unimodal experimental designs and to offer new insights on the emotional alterations among alcohol-dependent individuals. We will show how these preliminary results can be extended to develop a coherent and ambitious research program using crossmodal designs in various psychiatric populations and sensory modalities. We will finally end the paper by underlining the various potential clinical applications and the fundamental implications that can be raised by this emerging project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Maurage
- Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Université Catholique de Louvain Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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General and comparative efficacy and effectiveness of antidepressants in the acute treatment of depressive disorders: a report by the WPA section of pharmacopsychiatry. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2011; 261 Suppl 3:207-45. [PMID: 22033583 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-011-0259-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Current gold standard approaches to the treatment of depression include pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic interventions with social support. Due to current controversies concerning the efficacy of antidepressants in randomized controlled trials, the generalizability of study findings to wider clinical practice and the increasing importance of socioeconomic considerations, it seems timely to address the uncertainty of concerned patients and relatives, and their treating psychiatrists and general practitioners. We therefore discuss both the efficacy and clinical effectiveness of antidepressants in the treatment of depressive disorders. We explain and clarify useful measures for assessing clinically meaningful antidepressant treatment effects and the types of studies that are useful for addressing uncertainties. This includes considerations of methodological issues in randomized controlled studies, meta-analyses, and effectiveness studies. Furthermore, we summarize the differential efficacy and effectiveness of antidepressants with distinct pharmacodynamic properties, and differences between studies using antidepressants and/or psychotherapy. We also address the differential effectiveness of antidepressant drugs with differing modes of action and in varying subtypes of depressive disorder. After highlighting the clinical usefulness of treatment algorithms and the divergent biological, psychological, and clinical efforts to predict the effectiveness of antidepressant treatments, we conclude that the spectrum of different antidepressant treatments has broadened over the last few decades. The efficacy and clinical effectiveness of antidepressants is statistically significant, clinically relevant, and proven repeatedly. Further optimization of treatment can be helped by clearly structured treatment algorithms and the implementation of psychotherapeutic interventions. Modern individualized antidepressant treatment is in most cases a well-tolerated and efficacious approach to minimize the negative impact of otherwise potentially devastating and life-threatening outcomes in depressive disorders.
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Riedel M, Möller HJ, Obermeier M, Adli M, Bauer M, Kronmüller K, Brieger P, Laux G, Bender W, Heuser I, Zeiler J, Gaebel W, Schennach-Wolff R, Henkel V, Seemüller F. Clinical predictors of response and remission in inpatients with depressive syndromes. J Affect Disord 2011; 133:137-49. [PMID: 21555156 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Revised: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most predictor analyses search for single predictors or rely on data from randomized controlled trials. We aimed at detecting a set of clinical baseline variables for prediction of response and remission in 1014 naturalistically treated inpatients with major depressive episode treated for 53.62 ± 47.5 days. METHODS A three-staged procedure was implemented. First, univariate tests were used for finding associations with baseline variables. Second, logistic regression and third-CART analyses were used to determine predictors of response to inpatient treatment. RESULTS Presence of suicidality, a higher initial HAMD-21 total score, an episode length <24 months, fewer previous hospitalizations, and absence of any ICD-10F4 comorbidity predicted response in 2 different statistical models. Remission was predicted by lower HAMD-21 baseline score, episode length <24 months and fewer previous hospitalizations in both models. LIMITATION Results were assessed by a post-hoc analysis, based on prospectively collected data. No controlled study design. CONCLUSION Contrary to current beliefs, baseline suicidality might be associated with higher chances for response. In addition, baseline severity might impact outcome depending on which criterion (remission or response) used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Riedel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
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Leiser SC, Dunlop J, Bowlby MR, Devilbiss DM. Aligning strategies for using EEG as a surrogate biomarker: A review of preclinical and clinical research. Biochem Pharmacol 2011; 81:1408-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2010.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2010] [Revised: 10/01/2010] [Accepted: 10/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Lee IH, Yang YK, Chen PS, Huang HC, Yeh TL, Lu RB, Chiu NT, Yao WJ, Lin SH. Loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP) correlates with the availability of dopamine transporters and serotonin transporters in healthy volunteers-a two isotopes SPECT study. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 214:617-24. [PMID: 21072504 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-2064-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2010] [Accepted: 10/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE Although loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEPs) had been suggested as a noninvasive measure of central serotonin functions, recent studies suggest that LDAEP may be modulated by multiple neuromodulatory systems, such as dopamine. Here, we explore the relationship between LDAEP and dopamine and serotonin in the level of monoamine transporter availability. METHODS Forty-nine healthy volunteers received LDAEP and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using [(99m)Tc] TRODAT and [(123)I] ADAM to approximate the availability of dopamine transporters (DATs) and serotonin transporters (SERTs). RESULTS LDAEP was found to be positively associated with DAT, after adjusting for age and gender, and the log-transformed slope of loudness dependence at Cz was negatively associated with SERT. CONCLUSION Our findings provide further evidence for the possible involvement of dopamine and serotonins in the genesis of LDAEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Hui Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, 138 Sheng Li Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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Price GW, Lee JW, Garvey C, Gibson N. Appraisal of sessional EEG features as a correlate of clinical changes in an rTMS treatment of depression. Clin EEG Neurosci 2008; 39:131-8. [PMID: 18751562 DOI: 10.1177/155005940803900307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Previous findings on electrophysiological features related to depression predict that these correlate with clinical assessment, and potentially act as proxy measures of state changes. We investigated selected electrophysiological features to evaluate their utility as proxies for clinical ratings and in prediction of treatment outcome. Using typical EEG data from an repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment regime, we analyzed individual alpha power and frequency, and asymmetry index from 39 patients with treatment resistant depression. The prognostic utility of these features was assessed in terms of group identification, correlation with clinical rating, or association with the time course of treatment. There was no significant group difference in asymmetry between depression patients and normal and clinical controls. Background alpha was significantly less in depression patients than controls, with the schizophrenia group midway between. There was no significant group change in asymmetry index or background alpha activity with treatment. There was a weak effect of rTMS over each session on alpha power and on asymmetry, but in the opposite direction to predictions. There was weak evidence of predicted correlation between asymmetry index change and clinical rating change, as well as in final scores that was opposite to predictions. Finally there was no strong evidence that either feature fitted a linear or more complex model of daily treatment. In conclusion, the findings are not sufficient, under our current clinical treatment regime, to support the use of background alpha activity or frontal asymmetry as proxies for clinical assessment. Several findings, however, provide support for further research in this direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- G W Price
- Clinical Research and Neurophysiology, North Metropolitan Area Health Service-Mental Health, Perth, Australia.
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