Electroencephalographic measures of regional hemispheric activity in offspring at risk for depressive disorders.
BACKGROUND
Electroencephalographic (EEG) studies have found abnormal regional hemispheric asymmetries in depressive disorders, which have been hypothesized to be vulnerability markers for depression. In a longitudinal high-risk study, resting EEG was measured in primarily adult offspring of depressed or nondepressed probands.


METHODS
Electroencephalograms from12 homologous sites over each hemisphere (digitally linked-ears reference) were analyzed in right-handed offspring for whom both parents (n = 18), one parent (n = 40), or neither parent (n = 29) had a major depressive disorder (MDD).


RESULTS
Offspring with both parents having MDD showed greater alpha asymmetry at medial sites, with relatively less activity (more alpha) over right central and parietal regions, compared with offspring having one or no parent with MDD. Relatively less left frontal activity at lateral sites was associated with lifetime MDD in offspring but not with parental MDD. Offspring with both parents having a MDD also showed markedly greater anterior-to- posterior increase in alpha with eyes closed compared with those with one or no parent with a MDD.


CONCLUSIONS
Alpha asymmetry indicative of right parietotemporal hypoactivity, previously reported for depressed adolescents and adults, and heightened anterior-to-posterior gradient of alpha are present in high-risk offspring having parents concordant for MDD.
Bruder
Gerard E
GE
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA. bruderg@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu
Tenke
Craig E
CE
Warner
Virginia
V
Nomura
Yoko
Y
Grillon
Christian
C
Hille
Jeffrey
J
Leite
Paul
P
Weissman
Myrna M
MM
D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D012307:Risk Factors