Depression and somatosensory evoked potentials: II. Correlations between SEP and depressive phenomenology

In 32 patients with major depressive disorders according to Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC), symptomatology was rated using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) elicited by tactile fingertip stimuli were recorded at the vertex of the scalp. Patients were drug-free except for benzodiazepines. Amplitudes and amplitude/stimulus intensity slopes were adjusted to same sex, age, height, and weight. Uni-and multivariate correlations revealed associations between the N140-P200 amplitude and hypothyroidlike aspects of depression with symptoms such as poor appetite and indecisiveness, and between the P100-N140 slope and intrapunitive aspects of depression with symptoms such as negative self-evaluation and suicidal attempts. Neither attention level nor benzodiazepine medication were reflected in these relationships.