Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Kohler, 2011 PubMed |
| Full Info | Kohler, S., Ashton, C.H., Marsh, R., Thomas, A.J., Barnett, N.A. and O'Brien, J.T. (2011) Electrophysiological changes in late life depression and their relation to structural brain changes. Int Psychogeriatr, 23, 141-148.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Late life depression is often accompanied by slowed information processing during neuropsychological testing, and this has been related to underlying cerebrovascular disease. We investigated whether changes in electrophysiological markers of information processing might share the same pathological correlates.
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| Sample Information | 19 patients with DSM-IV major depression aged >/= 60 years were compared with 25 recordings in age-matched healthy controls |
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| Method Detail | Differences in power spectra frequency, contingent negative variation (CNV), post-imperative negative variation (PINV), and auditory P300a amplitude and latency in 19 patients with DSM-IV major depression aged >/= 60 years were compared with 25 recordings in age-matched healthy controls. Associations with total brain volume and degree of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) were examined in those who had undergone additional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). |
| Method Keywords | magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); electroencephalogram (EEG) |
| Result | Compared with healthy controls, patients had more slow-wave delta (group difference: p = 0.024) and theta activity (p = 0.015) as well as alpha activity (p = 0.005) but no decrease in beta band frequency (p = 0.077). None of these changes related differently to brain volume or WMH in patients or controls. Patients further showed prolonged P300a latencies (p = 0.027), which were associated with decreased total brain volume in patients but not controls (interaction by group: p = 0.004). While there were no overall differences in PINV between both groups, patients showed a decrease in PINV magnitude with increasing WMH, a relation that was not seen in controls (interaction by group: p = 0.024). |
| Conclusions | Patients with late life depression show changes in several electrophysiological markers of cerebral arousal and information processing, some of which relate to brain atrophy and WMH on MRI. |
Relationships reported by
Kohler, 2011
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Delta wave (slow-wave delta) |
neurobiological system |
P-value = 0.024 |
Compared with healthy controls, patients had more slow-wave delta (group difference: p = 0.024) |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Alpha wave (alpha) |
neurobiological system |
P-value = 0.005 |
Compared with healthy controls, patients had more alpha activity (p = 0.005) |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
P3a (P300a) |
neurobiological system |
P-value = 0.027 |
Patients further showed prolonged P300a latencies (p = 0.027) |
Positive
|
|
Brain volumes (total brain volume)
|
brain morphology and function |
P3a (P300a) |
neurobiological system |
P-value = 0.027 |
Patients further showed prolonged P300a latencies (p = 0.027), which were associated with decreased total brain volume in patients but not controls (interaction by group: p = 0.004). |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Theta wave (theta) |
neurobiological system |
P-value = 0.015 |
Compared with healthy controls, patients had more theta activity (p = 0.015) |
Positive
|
