Resting frontal electroencephalographic asymmetry in depression: Inconsistencies suggest the need to identify mediating factors

• Published in: Psychophysiology Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 389 - 404
• Main Authors: REID, STEPHANIE A., DUKE, LISA M., ALLEN, JOHN J.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Cambridge University Press 01.07.1998; Blackwell Publishing; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Depression; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - physiopathology; Dominance, Cerebral - physiology; Electroencephalography; Emotion; Female; Frontal Lobe - physiopathology; Humans; Individual differences; Individuality; Lateral dominance; Medical sciences; Methodology; Mood disorders; Personality Inventory; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychophysiology; Risk Factors; Lateral dominance; Electroencephalography; Emotion; Methodology; Psychophysiology; Individual differences; Mood disorder; Human; Frontal lobe; Hemispheric specialization; Electrophysiology; Psychometrics; Depression; Exploration; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III; Investigation method; Interindividual comparison; Depression Inventory Beck; Laterality
• ISSN: 0048-5772; 1540-5958; 1469-8986
• DOI: 10.1111/1469-8986.3540389

Two studies of the relationship between depression and resting frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) activity are reported. Although considerable research supports the theory of left and right hemispheric specialization for approach and withdrawal behaviors, only four studies involving clinically depressed individuals have been published to date. Despite methodological similarities with published research, no significant differences in frontal activation emerged between depressed and nondepressed participants with either college students having high Beck Depression Inventory scores (Study 1) or with individuals diagnosed with DSM-III-R depression (Study 2). Post hoc analyses in Study 2 revealed one effect confined to lateral frontal leads during the first 2 min of EEG data; this finding was significant in only one of three reference montages. Results are discussed in light of methodological considerations and mediating variables such as temperament and coping styles.