Topographic quantitative EEG in elderly subjects with major depression

Some previous quantitative EEG research indicates that depressed subjects show increased alpha and beta compared to controls. In this report, absolute and relative amplitude measures of topographic EEG were used to compare elderly subjects with major depression to sex and age matched control subjects. Elderly depressed subjects showed significantly higher absolute alpha amplitude than controls, but regional differences did not specifically distinguish them. Relative alpha amplitudes, and absolute and relative measures of beta, delta, and theta did not reliably distinguish depressed and control subjects. The results are discussed in the context of previous EEG research in depression and the elderly. Methodological features and the implications of these findings for state and trait dependent conceptualizations of depression are considered.