The loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials and effects of psychopathology and psychopharmacotherapy in psychiatric inpatients.
OBJECTIVE
Many studies have provided evidence for the loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP) as a marker for central serotonergic activity but remained inconclusive for its suitability in clinical use.


METHODS
A cross-sectional sample of 162 psychiatric inpatients (major depression N = 86, bipolar disorder N = 12, schizophrenia N = 50, and schizoaffective disorder N = 14) and 40 healthy subjects was retrospectively examined for LDAEP and effects of psychopathology and psychopharmacology.


RESULTS
The LDAEP was weaker in patients with affective disorders than in healthy subjects but did not differentiate between the total patient sample and healthy controls. LDAEP correlated significantly with dimensions of the Brief Symptom Inventory in the total patient sample (depression, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, Global Symptom Index, and Positive Symptom Distress Index), in patients with affective disorders (depression) and with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (depression, psychoticism, Global Symptom Index, and Positive Symptom Distress Index). Similar correlations were found in depressed patients with a single noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. There was a negative correlation between dosage of typical antipsychotics and LDAEP. Hypnotics generally led to a lower LDAEP.


CONCLUSIONS
The LDAEP in patients is related to severity of psychopathologic syndromes irrespective of diagnosis. Chronic psychopharmacologic treatment may also differentially modulate the LDAEP, but longitudinal studies are needed.
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Julia
J
Ostermann
Idun
I
Uhl
Elke
E
Köhler
Georg
G
Juckel
Christine
C
Norra
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008144:Loudness Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs