Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Motomura, 2002 PubMed |
| Full Info | Motomura, E., Inui, K., Nakase, S., Hamanaka, K. and Okazaki, Y. (2002) Late-onset depression: can EEG abnormalities help in clinical sub-typing? J Affect Disord, 68, 73-79.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of EEG abnormalities indicative of mild cerebrovascular dysfunction in patients with late-onset depression and to correlate these abnormalities with clinical features.
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| Sample Information | The subjects, aged > or = 50 years, were 51 outpatients with major depression diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. They were living in the community and prospectively selected at their initial consultation for mostly mild-moderate depression. We also included 32 normal age-matched controls. |
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| Method Detail | We examined basic rhythms and temporal slow waves on EEG and determined the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) as a scale for the severity of psychiatric symptoms. |
| Method Keywords | electroencephalogram (EEG) |
| Result | Temporal slow waves were more common in depressed patients (47%) than in normal controls (22%). Depressed patients with temporal slow waves had significantly lower frequency of family history of mood disorders (P<0.05). There was no difference in the total score of HAMD between patients with and without temporal slow waves, however, each score of HAMD in patients with temporal slow waves showed a significantly lower score for feeling of guilt (P<0.01) and a significantly higher score for general somatic symptoms (P<0.01) and hypochondriasis (P<0.01). |
| Conclusions | Our EEG study suggested that temporal slow waves, which were probably associated with subtle cerebrovascular lesions, might reflect vulnerability to late-onset depression. In addition, depressed patients with temporal slow waves could be classified as a subgroup of heterogeneous late-onset depression based on the clinical findings. These results must be interpreted within the limitations of the sample selection procedure. |
Relationships reported by
Motomura, 2002
| 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)) |
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Neuroticism (hypochondriasis)
|
symptoms |
Slow wave potential (temporal slow waves) |
neurobiological system |
P-value <0.01 |
each score of HAMD in patients with temporal slow waves showed a significantly higher score for hypochondriasis (P<0.01). |
Positive
|
|
Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and guilt (feeling of guilt)
|
symptoms |
Slow wave potential (temporal slow waves) |
neurobiological system |
P-value <0.01 |
each score of HAMD in patients with temporal slow waves showed a significantly lower score for feeling of guilt (P<0.01) |
Positive
|
|
Somatic symptoms (general somatic symptoms)
|
symptoms |
Slow wave potential (temporal slow waves) |
neurobiological system |
P-value <0.01 |
each score of HAMD in patients with temporal slow waves showed a significantly higher score for general somatic symptoms (P<0.01) |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Slow wave potential (temporal slow waves) |
neurobiological system |
in depressed patients (47%) |
Temporal slow waves were more common in depressed patients (47%) than in normal controls (22%). |
Positive
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