Alteration of frontal EEG asymmetry during tryptophan depletion predicts future depression.
BACKGROUND
Tryptophan depletion (TD) reduces brain serotonin and may induce acute depressive symptomatology, especially among those with a history of Major Depression. Depressive response to TD among euthymic patients with a history of depression also predicts future depression. Better prediction might result by assessing a putative endophenotype for depressive risk, frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry, in the context of TD.


METHODS
Nine euthymic history-positive participants and nine controls were administered TD. Symptomatic and EEG frontal asymmetry data were collected for 6 h following TD, and clinical status was followed for the next 12 months.


RESULTS
The magnitude of TD-induced change in frontal EEG asymmetry significantly predicted the development of depression during the ensuing six to twelve months, and with greater sensitivity than symptomatic response.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are tempered by the small sample size.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the limited sample size, these preliminary results suggest that TD-induced changes in frontal EEG asymmetry may provide a more sensitive indicator of risk for imminent depression than symptomatic response to TD.
Allen
John J B
JJ
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068, United States. jallen@u.arizona.edu
McKnight
Katherine M
KM
Moreno
Francisco A
FA
Demaree
Heath A
HA
Delgado
Pedro L
PL
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency*
D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan
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