Auditory event related potentials in major depression: prolonged P300 latency and increased P200 amplitude.
BACKGROUND
Some studies have shown disturbances in auditory event related potentials (AERPs) in patients with major depression.


METHODS
In this exploratory study, the late AERP components, N100 (latency), P200 (amplitude and latency) and P300 (amplitude and latency) were recorded in 68 subjects, i.e. 39 major depressed subjects, with (n=4) or without (n=35) cognitive deterioration, 18 patients with Alzheimer's dementia (SDAT) and 11 normal volunteers. Twenty-five major depressed patients had repeated measurements of AERPs both before and after treatment with antidepressants.


RESULTS
Major depressed subjects without cognitive deterioration had significantly higher P300 latency and P200 amplitude than normal volunteers. SDAT patients and major depressed patients with cognitive impairment had a significantly higher P300 latency than depressed patients without cognitive impairment. In the latter, no significant alterations in any of the AERP components upon subchronic treatment with antidepressants were recorded. Nonresponders to antidepressant therapy had significantly higher pretreatment P300 latency and P200 amplitude than responders to treatment (P=0.006) and normal volunteers (P=0.0004).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings may suggest that delayed P300 latency as well as increased P200 amplitude accompany major depression and may predict a nonresponse to subsequent antidepressive therapy.
Vandoolaeghe
E
E
Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, AZ Stuivenberg, Antwerp, Belgium.
van Hunsel
F
F
Nuyten
D
D
Maes
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation