The relation of depression and anxiety to measures of attention in young adults seeking psychoeducational evaluation

The relation between mood and attentional functioning in young adults seeking psychoeducational evaluation has not been previously reported. This study examined the relation of self-reported depression and anxiety on attentional abilities among 161 young adults referred for psychoeducational evaluation. Depression and anxiety were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Attentional functioning was assessed using the Trail Making Test, the d2 Test of Attention, the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test, and the WAIS-III Working Memory and Processing Speed Indices. The unique variance accounted for by depression or anxiety was minimal (typically <1.5%); these null results were confirmed by diagnostic subgroup analyses and also after examining the interaction between depression and anxiety. These results suggest that performance on measures of attention within samples of young adults seeking psychoeducational evaluation is minimally related to self-reported depression and anxiety.     

The oft‐neglected role of parietal EEG asymmetry and risk for major depressive disorder

Relatively less right parietal activity may reflect reduced arousal and signify risk for major depressive disorder (MDD). Inconsistent findings with parietal electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry, however, suggest issues such as anxiety comorbidity and sex differences have yet to be resolved. Resting parietal EEG asymmetry was assessed in 306 individuals (31% male) with (n=143) and without (n=163) a DSM‐IV diagnosis of lifetime MDD and no comorbid anxiety disorders. Past MDD+ women displayed relatively less right parietal activity than current MDD+ and MDD? women, replicating prior work. Recent caffeine intake, an index of arousal, moderated the relationship between depression and EEG asymmetry for women and men. Findings suggest that sex differences and arousal should be examined in studies of depression and regional brain activity.     

Adolescent life events as predictors of adult depression

BACKGROUND: Among adults, life events predict future episodes of major depression as well as a range of anxiety disorders. While studies have begun to examine this issue in adolescents, few studies rely upon prospective epidemiological designs to document relationships between adolescent life events and adult major depression. METHOD: An epidemiologically-selected sample of 776 young people living in Upstate New York received DSM-based psychiatric assessments and an assessment of life events in 1986. Psychopathology was again assessed in 1992. The current study examined the predictive relationship between life events in 1986 and depression as well as anxiety in 1992, controlling for depression/anxiety in 1986. RESULTS: Adolescent life events predicted an increased risk for major depression diagnosis in adulthood. When analyzed continuously, an association emerged with symptoms of major depression as well as with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. However, this association with generalized anxiety disorder was limited to females. CONCLUSIONS: Life events in adolescence predict risk for major depression during early adulthood.     

Long-term stability of frontal electroencephalographic asymmetry in adults with a history of depression and controls.

We investigated the stability in resting EEG across a 1- to 3-year interval in 49 adults (33 female and 16 male) with a history of unipolar depression (first onset prior to the age of 14) and 50 controls (33 female and 17 male) with no history of major psychopathology. Current depressive symptoms were quantified by self-report at both assessments. For the entire sample, EEG asymmetry in the alpha range was moderately stable (intraclass correlations between 0.39 and 0.61). Sex, history of depression, depressive symptom severity at Time 2, and change in symptom severity between Time 1 and Time 2 were unrelated to stability of EEG asymmetry. These findings support the view that resting frontal EEG asymmetry reflects a moderately stable individual difference in adults, irrespective of sex and history of depression.     

Emotion Regulation Processes and Psychoform and Somatoform Dissociation in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cumulative Maltreatment

The relationship between childhood trauma and dissociative experiences is widely acknowledged. However, the association between emotion regulation difficulties (ERD), anxiety/depression and dissociation in adolescents and young adults with cumulative maltreatment (CM) remains unclear. The present study examined the role of ERD at both intrapersonal and interpersonal levels and anxiety/depression symptoms in the development of psychoform or somatoform dissociation in adolescents and young adults with CM. We assessed 58 participants with CM and 55 participants without childhood trauma history between the age of 12 and 22 years old. Participants completed self-reports of ERD, anxiety/depression, psychoform dissociation and somatoform dissociation. The results revealed that adolescents and young adults exposed to CM displayed high levels of psychoform and somatoform dissociation, ERD and anxiety/depression symptoms. It was also found that intrapersonal and interpersonal ERD predicted psychoform dissociation, whereas anxiety/depression predicted somatoform dissociation in adolescents and young adults with CM. Intrapersonal and interpersonal ERD and anxiety/depression are therapy targets for clinical interventions in adolescents and young adults with CM and dissociative symptoms.     

Frontal EEG asymmetry and sensation seeking in young adults

Sensation seeking has been characterized as a desire to seek novel, intense sensations, and the willingness to take risks in pursuing them. In two separate studies of young adults, we examined the relation between measures of sensation seeking and the pattern of resting frontal EEG asymmetry, thought to reflect a biological predisposition to approach new experiences. As predicted, high sensation seeking was related to a greater relative left frontal activity at rest in both studies, which may be specific to men. How greater relative left frontal cortical activity at rest is related to a tendency to engage in sensation-seeking and risky behaviors is discussed.     

Can EEG asymmetry patterns predict future development of anxiety and depression?: A preliminary study

Previous research has shown that those reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety tend to exhibit greater relative right frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Thus, Davidson [Davidson, R.J., 1995. Cerebral asymmetry, emotion, and affective style. In: Davidson, R.J., Hugdahl, K. (Eds.), Brain Asymmetry. MIT, Cambridge, pp. 361-387] has suggested that greater relative right anterior activity may act as a vulnerability marker for the development of depression and anxiety disorders. This study therefore examined whether anterior and posterior EEG asymmetry patterns predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms one year later. At time 1, participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and had baseline EEG activity recorded. Participants then completed the BDI and STAI one year later. Those with relatively greater EEG activity in the right anterior region reported greater trait anxiety one year later. These preliminary results suggest that relative right frontal EEG activity may predict future development of anxiety symptoms.     

Genetic and environmental influences on frontal EEG asymmetry: a twin study

Research suggests that frontal EEG asymmetry (FA) is a relatively stable trait associated with individual differences in dispositional affect (affective style) and liability to mood disorders. If FA is genetically determined, it can potentially serve as an endophenotype in genetic studies of temperament and mood disorders. The purpose of this study was to assess heritability of FA as well as alpha band EEG power measured at different frontal recording sites. Resting EEG data from a population-based sample of 246 young adult female twins including 73 monozygotic (MZ) and 50 dizygotic (DZ) pairs were analyzed using linear structural equation modeling. FA measured at mid-frontal locations (F3 and F4) showed low but significant heritability, suggesting that 27% of the observed variance can be accounted for by genetic factors. There was no evidence for genetic influences on FA measured at lateral-frontal (F7 and F8) locations. In contrast, alpha band power was highly heritable at all four frontal sites (85-87%). These findings suggest that: (1) genetic influences on FA are very modest and therefore FA has a limited utility as an endophenotype for genetic studies of mood disorders and (2) prefrontal neural circuitry underlying individual differences in affective style is characterized by high developmental plasticity.     

Sex differences in patterns of EEG asymmetry.

This paper reports three studies showing sex differences in EEG asymmetry during self-generated cognitive and affective tasks. In the first experiment, bilateral EEG, quantified for alpha on-line, was recorded from right-handed subjects while they either whistled, sang or recited lyrics of familiar songs. The results revealed significant asymmetry between the whistle and talk conditions only for subjects with no familial left-handedness and, within this group, only for females and not for males. In the second experiment, bilateral EEG was recorded while right-handed subjects (with no familial left-handedness) self-induced covert affective and non-affective states. Results revealed significantly greater relative right-hemisphere activation during emotion versus non-emotion trials only in females; males showed no significant task-dependent shifts in asymmetry between conditions. The third experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that females show greater percent time asymmetry than males during biofeedback training for symmetrical and asymmetrical EEG patterns. Results confirmed this prediction as well as indicating that females show better control of such asymmetrical cortical patterning. These findings provide new neuropsychological support for the hypothesis of greater bilateral flexibility in females during self-generation tasks.     

Aging and depression: Vulnerability and stress across adulthood

This paper reviews research on the relationship between age and depression in adulthood, with a focus on depression in late life. Age differences in prevalence rates of major depression and depressive symptomatology raise questions about presentation and measurement of depression across adulthood, and suggest a changing salience of risk factors for depression from young adulthood through old age as well as to cohort differences in risk for depression. Applying a developmental perspective on biological change, psychological adaptation, and stress processes throughout adulthood shows that risk for depression onset in young adults is typified more through psychological vulnerability and stress, as well as genetic factors, while risk for depression in older adults typified more through comorbid medical and neurological disorder. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed. This review of the relationship of age to depression shows that the study of psychopathology and adult development can inform each other.     

女性抑郁症患者指长波动性不对称的分析*

目的：分析宁夏汉族女性抑郁症与指长波动性不对称（ FA）的关系。 方法：采用体质测量法,比较宁 夏汉族女性238 例（ 正常对照组122 例, 抑郁症患者组116 例） 指长FA（2FA、3FA、4FA、5FA） 均值的差 异性。 结果：宁夏汉族女性正常对照组与抑郁症患者组各指长FA 均值均呈现2FA>4FA>3FA>5FA的趋势;抑 郁症患者组各指长FA 均值均高于正常对照组,2FA、4FA 差异有统计学意义;抑郁症患者组2FA、4FA 在0.02 mm相似文献   

Long-term stability of electroencephalographic asymmetry and power in 3 to 9 year-old children.

We investigated the test-retest stability of resting EEG asymmetry and power in the alpha frequency range across a 0.6- to 3-year interval in 125 children (57 girls and 68 boys) for two age groups, 87 preschool children (3 to 5 year-olds) and 38 school-age children (6 to 9 year-olds). Children were from families with a parent's history of unipolar or bipolar depression (36 girls and 43 boys) or control families with no parent history of depression nor any other psychiatric disorder (21 girls and 25 boys). Frontal EEG asymmetry stability was low to moderate; intraclass correlations ranged from zero to 0.48 in the eyes-open condition, and from 0.19 to 0.45 in the eyes-closed condition. Also, parietal EEG asymmetry was low to moderate; intraclass correlations ranged from 0.21 to 0.52 in the eyes-open condition and from 0.27 to 0.72 in the eyes-closed condition. Stability of EEG asymmetry was not related to age, sex of the child, or parent's history of mood disorder. Frontal and parietal EEG power appeared moderately to highly stable. Intraclass correlations were between 0.65 and 0.86 in the eyes-open condition and between 0.52 and 0.90 in the eyes-closed condition. Although stability of EEG power was not statistical significantly different between preschool and school-age children, it consistently showed higher stability values in school-age children than in preschool children. Stability in school-age children approached values as has been reported for adults. The findings provide partial support to the concept of frontal EEG asymmetry as a trait marker in childhood.     

The failed repressor: EEG asymmetry as a moderator of the relation between defensiveness and depressive symptoms

This study assessed the joint effects of defensiveness and frontal asymmetry in predicting symptoms of depression and anxiety. Depression symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and anxiety symptoms with the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS). Defensiveness was assessed with both the Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire L scale (EPQL). Participants completed two EEG recording sessions 3 weeks apart. Six baselines, three eyes open and three eyes closed, were recorded in each session. Alpha power (8–13 Hz) was computed and log transformed. R–L asymmetry was computed at eight pairs of homologous sites for aggregated data. Defensiveness (EPQL and MCSD scores) and depression symptoms (BDI) were assessed at the beginning of the first session. L and MCSD correlated positively with anterior R–L asymmetries. For both scales, the highest correlations were observed at F8–F7. L interacted with F8–F7 asymmetry to predict depressive symptoms. Among left frontally active individuals, there was trend toward a negative correlation between L and BDI. Among the right frontally active individuals, the correlation between L and the BDI was positive. MCSD did not moderate the relation between F8–F7 asymmetry and BDI. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that defensiveness protects against symptoms of depression in the context of left frontal activity, and serves as a diathesis for depression in the context of right frontal activity. High-defensive individuals who are right frontally active may represent “failed repressors,” i.e. individuals for whom defensiveness does not protect against depression, and may even exacerbate it.     

Is the relationship between frontal EEG alpha asymmetry and depression mediated by implicit or explicit self-esteem?

A robust physiological finding is a higher relative left sided activity in the prefrontal cortex during the experience of positive approach related emotions and a higher relative right sided activity during the experience of negative withdrawal related emotions. Since self-esteem can be conceptualized within a framework of approach/withdrawal tendencies, the present study aimed at investigating if the relation between frontal EEG alpha asymmetry and depressive symptoms is mediated by implicit or explicit self-esteem. Self-esteem was measured by questionnaires (explicit) and in an indirect way (implicit). The mediation analyses showed that only explicit self-esteem acted as a partial mediator in the path from EEG alpha asymmetry to depression.     

Psychiatric comorbidity of smoking and nicotine dependence

Recent epidemiologic studies have revealed that comorbidity of psychiatric disorders is far more pervasive than previously suspected. Strong associations have been reported between specific substance use disorders and between any mental disorder and any substance use disorder. This report focuses on comorbidity of nicotine dependence, a substance use disorder on which little epidemiologic information is available. Data come from an epidemiologic study of approximately 1000 young adults in southeast Michigan, in which the NIMH-DIS, revised according to DSM-III-R, was used. Lifetime prevalence of nicotine dependence was 20%. Males and females with nicotine dependence had increased odds for alcohol and illicit drug disorders, major depression, and anxiety disorders, compared with nondependent smokers and nonsmokers combined. Major depression and any anxiety disorder were associated specifically with nicotine dependence. Increased odds for alcohol or illicit drug disorders were observed also in nondependent smokers, compared to nonsmokers. History of early conduct problems increased the odds for nicotine dependence among smokers. Potential mechanisms in the comorbidity of nicotine dependence are discussed.     

Panic attacks and the risk of depression among young adults in the community

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between panic attacks and the risk of major depression among young adults in the community. METHODS: Data were drawn from a 21-year longitudinal birth cohort study (n = 1, 265). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between panic attacks in adolescence (age 15-21 years) and the risk of current major depression (past month). RESULTS: Having a panic attack in the preceding 3 years was significantly associated with elevated risk of current major depression (past month) at the ages of 18 and 21. This association persisted after adjusting for a range of fixed social, family and individual risk factors for psychopathology, history of major depression, comorbid psychiatric disorder and life adversity among both males (OR = 8.9; 95% CI = 3.9-20.4) and females (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.2-4.2). CONCLUSIONS: These data are consistent with and extend previous work by showing that panic attack increases the risk of current major depression, independent of the effects of psychiatric comorbidity and other early risk factors for psychopathology, though much of this relationship appears to be explained by common risk factors and comorbidity. These data show new evidence of interaction between gender and panic attacks in the risk of depression among young persons. Replication of these findings is needed, as are future studies that further investigate the underlying mechanism of this association.     

Low positive emotionality in young children: association with EEG asymmetry

Low positive emotionality (PE; e.g., listlessness, anhedonia, and lack of enthusiasm) has been hypothesized to be a temperamental precursor or risk factor for depression. The present study sought to evaluate the validity of this hypothesis by testing whether low PE children have similar external correlates as individuals with depression. This paper focused on the external correlate of EEG asymmetry. Previous studies have reported that individuals at risk for depression exhibited a frontal EEG asymmetry (greater right than left activity). Others have reported an association with posterior asymmetries (greater left than right activity). In the present study, children classified as having low PE at age 3 exhibited an overall asymmetry at age 5-6 with less relative activity in the right hemisphere. This asymmetry appeared to be largely due to a difference in the posterior region because children with low PE exhibited decreased right posterior activity whereas high PE children exhibited no posterior asymmetry. These findings support the construct validity of the hypothesis that low PE may be a temperamental precursor or risk factor for depression.     

Emotion and resilience: a multilevel investigation of hemispheric electroencephalogram asymmetry and emotion regulation in maltreated and nonmaltreated children

The current study was a multilevel investigation of resilience, emotion regulation, and hemispheric electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry in a sample of maltreated and nonmaltreated school age children. It was predicted that the positive emotionality and increased emotion regulatory ability associated with resilient functioning would be associated with relatively greater left frontal EEG activity. The study also investigated differences in pathways to resilience between maltreated and nonmaltreated children. The findings indicated that EEG asymmetry across central cortical regions distinguished between resilient and nonresilient children, with greater left hemisphere activity characterizing those who were resilient. In addition, nonmaltreated children showed greater left hemisphere EEG activity across parietal cortical regions. There was also a significant interaction between resilience, maltreatment status, and gender for asymmetry at anterior frontal electrodes, where nonmaltreated resilient females had greater relative left frontal activity compared to more right frontal activity exhibited by resilient maltreated females. An observational measure of emotion regulation significantly contributed to the prediction of resilience in the maltreated and nonmaltreated children, but EEG asymmetry in central cortical regions independently predicted resilience only in the maltreated group. The findings are discussed in terms of their meaning for the development of resilient functioning.     

One-month prevalence of depression and other DSM-IV disorders among young adults.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to provide prevalence data on depression and other current mental disorders, impairment, need of psychiatric care and use of mental health services among young adults. METHODS: Based on a semi-structured clinical interview, current DSM-IV disorders, impairment, need of psychiatric care and use of mental health services were evaluated in a sample of 20-24-year-old young urban adults (N = 245), mean age 21.8, screened from a baseline population of 706. One-month prevalence estimates for disorders were calculated by the double sampling method, using various additional criteria to identify cases. RESULTS: One in four young adults (23.8%) suffered from a current mental disorder, the most prevalent being depressive (10.8%), anxiety (6.9%), substance use (6.2%) and personality disorders (6.0%). Prevalence estimates varied substantially according to the use of additional diagnostic criteria. Impairment (GAF < 61) together with DSM-IV symptom criteria produced an overall disorder prevalence of 10.3%, and 5.5% for depression. Prevalences were higher for females than males, except for alcohol abuse and personality disorders. Current co-morbidity was found in 39% of subjects with any disorder, and in more than half of those with depression. One-third of subjects with a current disorder reported an associated contact with psychiatric services and 16% had an ongoing contact. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the use of additional criteria to produce clinically relevant prevalence data. Co-morbidity should receive special attention due to its amplification of both need for psychiatric care and severity of impairment. Finally, our results show disturbed young adults to be severely undertreated.     

Emotivity, personality, and task-dependent EEG asymmetry.

In order to verify if task-dependent EEG asymmetry is related to emotivity or personality traits, the relationship between EEGraphic (EEG mapping) asymmetry, personality aspects, and emotional-affective state in 12 healthy volunteers was evaluated by means of standardized methods (SAD and CPI). Our subjects show an EEG asymmetry which is currently attributed in the literature to anxiety. In our subject the absence of anxiety and the presence of hyperthymic characteristics suggests that the different individual trends observed in various studies which have used methods similar to ours, could, at least partly, depend on interference on these variables.