title: EEG frontal asymmetry in the depressed and remitted elderly: is it related to the trait or to the state of depression?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the last 30 years, frontal EEG asymmetry has been investigated with regards to the study of emotion, motivation, and psychopathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the frontal alpha asymmetry, depressive symptoms with a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and quality of life with a Short Form Health Survey-36® (SF-36®) in depressed (n=12), remitted (n=8) and non-depressed (n=7) elderly subjects. We also evaluated the correlation between the frontal EEG asymmetry and physical and mental aspects of SF-36®.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups showed no difference regarding the frontal alpha asymmetry (F=0.37; p=0.69). Moreover, there was no significant correlation between frontal asymmetry and quality of life (mental and physical aspects).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed no evidence of a relationship between frontal asymmetry, quality of life and depression in the elderly. Future studies on frontal asymmetry should carefully consider the effects of age.
authors.affiliation: Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders (CDA), Institute of Psychiatry (IPUB), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. aocarvalho@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Heitor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Roberto A M
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Piedade
authors.forename: Andréa C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Deslandes
authors.forename: Jerson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laks
authors.forename: Marcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Versiani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012074:Remission Induction