Correlation of event-related potentials N170 with dysfunctional attitudes in patients with major depressive disorder

Yanqing Xi; Zongqi Wang; Haiyu Zhou; Yuting Tan; Xiaodong Hu; Yanfang Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.002

Correlation of event-related potentials N170 with dysfunctional attitudes in patients with major depressive disorder

J Affect Disord. 2023 Nov 1:340:228-236. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.002. Epub 2023 Aug 5.

Authors

Yanqing Xi¹, Zongqi Wang², Haiyu Zhou³, Yuting Tan³, Xiaodong Hu⁴, Yanfang Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
² First School of Clinical Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 031000, China.
³ School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 031000, China.
⁵ First School of Clinical Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China; Department of Psychiatry, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 031000, China. Electronic address: wangyanfang123868@163.com.

PMID: 37544482
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.002

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment frequently accompanies first-episode major depressive disorder (MDD) in patients. Early detection and intervention for cognitive impairment can enhance the quality of life for individuals with depressive disorders. Impaired emotion recognition may serve as an initial manifestation of cognitive impairment in these patients. This study examines the characteristics of event-related potentials N170 and dysfunctional attitudinal questionnaire total scores, as well as each factor and their correlation, revealing characteristic electroencephalogram (EEG) changes associated with cognitive impairment in first-episode MDD patients.

Method: A total of 88 patients experiencing first-episode MDD and 29 healthy volunteers from the same period participated in the study. They underwent event-related potential N170 measures to assess mood recognition function, the 17-item Hamilton depression scale (HAMD-17) to evaluate the severity of depressive disorder, and the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scales(DAS) to appraise cognitive function.

Result: The dysfunctional attitude questionnaire's total score and each factor score were higher in the MDD group compared to the healthy control (HC) group. The MDD group exhibited lower amplitudes than the HC group at CZ, PZ, POZ, P7, PO7, P8, and PO8 electrode points. A correlation was identified between the P7 and PO7 electrode points of the event-related potential N170 and cognitive function.

Limitation: This study solely considered neutral face emotional stimuli and did not account for depressive disorder subtypes.

Conclusion: Differences were observed between the MDD and HC groups in cognitive function and N170 amplitude in the central brain region (CZ, PZ, POZ), left posterior temporal region (P7), left occipitotemporal region (PO7), right posterior temporal region (P8), and right occipitotemporal region (PO8). Additionally, a correlation was found between N170 latency in the left posterior temporal region of the brain (P7) and the left occipitotemporal region (PO7) with cognitive function.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Dysfunctional attitudes; Event-related potentials; Spearman's rank correlation analysis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attitude
Depressive Disorder, Major* / diagnosis
Electroencephalography
Evoked Potentials
Humans
Quality of Life