title: Neurophysiologic Correlates of Headache Pain in Subjects With Major Depressive Disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Headache pain is often comorbid with major depressive disorder (MDD) and is associated with greater symptom burden, disability, and suicidality. The biological correlates of headache pain in MDD, however, remain obscure. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between brain oscillatory activity and headache pain in MDD subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 64 subjects with MDD who were free of psychoactive medications were evaluated for severity of headache pain in the past week. Brain function was assessed using resting-state quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). We derived cordance in the theta (4-8 Hz) and alpha (8-12 Hz) frequency bands at each electrode, and examined correlations with headache pain in regions of interest while controlling for depression severity. Frontal and posterior asymmetry in alpha power was calculated in regions of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Headache pain severity was associated with depression severity ( r = 0.447, P < .001). In bilateral frontal and right posterior regions, alpha cordance was significantly associated with headache intensity, including when controlling for depression severity. The direction of the correlation was positive anteriorly and negative posteriorly. Frontal left dominant alpha asymmetry correlated with severity of headache but not depression symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alterations in brain oscillations identified by alpha cordance and alpha asymmetry may be associated with the pathophysiology of headache pain in depression. These findings should be prospectively confirmed.
authors.affiliation: 1 UCLA Laboratory of Brain, Behavior, and Pharmacology and the Depression Research and Clinic Program, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Graham C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Scanlon
authors.affiliation: 1 UCLA Laboratory of Brain, Behavior, and Pharmacology and the Depression Research and Clinic Program, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Felipe A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: 1 UCLA Laboratory of Brain, Behavior, and Pharmacology and the Depression Research and Clinic Program, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Aimee M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: 1 UCLA Laboratory of Brain, Behavior, and Pharmacology and the Depression Research and Clinic Program, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: 1 UCLA Laboratory of Brain, Behavior, and Pharmacology and the Depression Research and Clinic Program, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leuchter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alpha asymmetry; cordance; depression; electroencephalography; headache