Disorder specificity despite comorbidity: Resting EEG alpha asymmetry in major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder

A. H. Kemp; K. Griffiths; K. L. Felmingham; Stewart A Shankman; W. Drinkenburg; M. Arns; C. R. Clark; R. A. Bryant

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.08.001

Disorder specificity despite comorbidity: Resting EEG alpha asymmetry in major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder

A. H. Kemp^*, K. Griffiths, K. L. Felmingham, Stewart A Shankman, W. Drinkenburg, M. Arns, C. R. Clark, R. A. Bryant

^*Corresponding author for this work

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

167 Scopus citations

Abstract

The approach-withdrawal and valence-arousal models highlight that specific brain laterality profiles may distinguish depression and anxiety. However, studies remain to be conducted in multiple clinical populations that directly test the diagnostic specificity of these hypotheses. The current study compared electroencephalographic data under resting state, eyes closed conditions in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (N= 15) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (N= 14) relative to healthy controls (N= 15) to examine the specificity of brain laterality in these disorders. Key findings included (1) reduced left-frontal activity in MDD, (2) a positive correlation between PTSD severity and right-frontal lateralisation, (3) greater activity in PTSD patients relative to MDD within the right-parietotemporal region, and (4) globally increased alpha power in MDD. Findings partially support the diagnostic applicability of the theoretical frameworks. Future studies may benefit from examining task-driven differences between groups.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	350-354
Number of pages	5
Journal	Biological Psychology
Volume	85
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.08.001
State	Published - Oct 2010

Funding

This research was supported by a NHMRC Program Grant (300304), NHMRC Project Grants (464863 & 464820) and an ARC Discovery Project (DP0987332). AHK is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Award (571101). We acknowledge the data and support provided by BRAINnet; www.BRAINnet.net , under the governance of the BRAINnet Foundation. BRAINnet is the scientific network that coordinates access to the Brain Resource International Database for independent scientific purposes. CRC owns personal shares in Brain Resource, although the shares owned are less than 1% of the company value. We would like to thank Chris Spooner and Chris Rennie for technical assistance.

Keywords

Alpha asymmetry
BRAINnet
Brain Resource International Database
Depression
EEG
Electroencephalography
MDD
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Resting state

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience
Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

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10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.08.001

Cite this

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title = "Disorder specificity despite comorbidity: Resting EEG alpha asymmetry in major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder",

abstract = "The approach-withdrawal and valence-arousal models highlight that specific brain laterality profiles may distinguish depression and anxiety. However, studies remain to be conducted in multiple clinical populations that directly test the diagnostic specificity of these hypotheses. The current study compared electroencephalographic data under resting state, eyes closed conditions in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (N= 15) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (N= 14) relative to healthy controls (N= 15) to examine the specificity of brain laterality in these disorders. Key findings included (1) reduced left-frontal activity in MDD, (2) a positive correlation between PTSD severity and right-frontal lateralisation, (3) greater activity in PTSD patients relative to MDD within the right-parietotemporal region, and (4) globally increased alpha power in MDD. Findings partially support the diagnostic applicability of the theoretical frameworks. Future studies may benefit from examining task-driven differences between groups.",

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note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by a NHMRC Program Grant (300304), NHMRC Project Grants (464863 & 464820) and an ARC Discovery Project (DP0987332). AHK is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Award (571101). We acknowledge the data and support provided by BRAINnet; www.BRAINnet.net , under the governance of the BRAINnet Foundation. BRAINnet is the scientific network that coordinates access to the Brain Resource International Database for independent scientific purposes. CRC owns personal shares in Brain Resource, although the shares owned are less than 1% of the company value. We would like to thank Chris Spooner and Chris Rennie for technical assistance.",

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AU - Felmingham, K. L.

AU - Shankman, Stewart A

AU - Drinkenburg, W.

AU - Arns, M.

AU - Clark, C. R.

AU - Bryant, R. A.

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N2 - The approach-withdrawal and valence-arousal models highlight that specific brain laterality profiles may distinguish depression and anxiety. However, studies remain to be conducted in multiple clinical populations that directly test the diagnostic specificity of these hypotheses. The current study compared electroencephalographic data under resting state, eyes closed conditions in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (N= 15) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (N= 14) relative to healthy controls (N= 15) to examine the specificity of brain laterality in these disorders. Key findings included (1) reduced left-frontal activity in MDD, (2) a positive correlation between PTSD severity and right-frontal lateralisation, (3) greater activity in PTSD patients relative to MDD within the right-parietotemporal region, and (4) globally increased alpha power in MDD. Findings partially support the diagnostic applicability of the theoretical frameworks. Future studies may benefit from examining task-driven differences between groups.

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Disorder specificity despite comorbidity: Resting EEG alpha asymmetry in major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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