Resting-State Quantitative Electroencephalography Demonstrates Differential Connectivity in Adolescents with Major...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Biomarkers for pediatric psychiatric disorders, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD), are critically needed.
• Quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) presents a promising avenue as an intermediate biomarker for psychiatric conditions.
• Previous research suggests potential alterations in brain activity and connectivity in youth with MDD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) measures of brain connectivity and power in adolescents diagnosed with MDD compared to healthy controls (HCs).
• To determine if specific qEEG patterns, such as frontal cortex coherence and absolute alpha power, differ between pediatric MDD patients and HCs.
• To explore the potential of qEEG as an intermediate phenotype for assessing brain network development in adolescent MDD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional pilot study involving adolescents aged 14-17 years with MDD (n=25) and age- and gender-matched HCs (n=14).
• Quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) data acquisition to measure coherence and absolute power across four frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta).
• Analysis focused on overall and frontal-only coherence, overall and frontal-only qEEG power, and clinician-rated measures of anhedonia and anxiety.

Main Results:

• Adolescents with MDD demonstrated significantly lower average coherence in the theta frequency band compared to HCs.
• Decreased frontal cortex coherence in the theta band was observed in the MDD group.
• While overall power did not differ, frontal delta power was significantly higher in MDD patients versus HCs, and seven node pairs showed significantly lower coherence in MDD patients.

Conclusions:

• Quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) findings indicate significant differences in brain connectivity between adolescents with MDD and healthy controls.
• Youth with MDD exhibit decreased neural connectivity, particularly in frontal regions and the theta frequency band, suggesting impaired resting-state brain network development.
• qEEG shows potential as an accessible intermediate phenotype for assessing neurobiological differences in pediatric major depressive disorder.