Abstract
Objective: We investigated frontal quantitative EEG (QEEG) as predictor of changes in suicidal ideation (SI) during SSRI treatment in major depressive disorder (MDD). Method: Eighty-two subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD entered an 8-week, prospective, open-label treatment with flexible dose SSRIs and completed at least 4 weeks of treatment. We assessed MDD severity with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17); change in SI was measured with HAM-D item no. 3. We recorded four-channel EEGs (F7-Fpz, F8-Fpz, A1-Fpz, A2-Fpz) before treatment. Results: During the first 4 weeks of treatment 9 (11%) subjects experienced worsening SI. Left-right asymmetry of combined theta + alpha power correlated significantly with change in SI from baseline, even when adjusting for changes in depression severity (HAM-D-17) and for the SSRI utilized. Conclusion: Frontal QEEG parameters before treatment may predict worsening SI during SSRI treatment in MDD.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 271-276 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica |
Volume | 117 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Major depressive disorder
- Quantitative electroencephalography
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Suicidal ideation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health