AUDITORY EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS IN MAJOR DEPRESSION - PROLONGED P300 LATENCY AND INCREASED P200 AMPLITUDE

Background: Some studies have shown disturbances in auditory event rel ated potentials (AERPs) in patients with major depression. Methods: In this exploratory study, the late AERP components, N100 (latency), P20 0 (amplitude and latency) and P300 (amplitude and latency) were record ed in 68 subjects, i.e. 39 major depressed subjects, with (n = 4) or w ithout (n = 35) cognitive deterioration, 18 patients with Alzheimer's dementia (SDAT) and 11 normal volunteers. Twenty-five major depressed patients had repeated measurements of AERPs both before and after trea tment with antidepressants. Results: Major depressed subjects without cognitive deterioration had significantly higher P300 latency and P200 amplitude than normal volunteers. SDAT patients and major depressed p atients with cognitive impairment had a significantly higher P300 late ncy than depressed patients without cognitive impairment. In the latte r, no significant alterations in any of the AERP components upon subch ronic treatment with antidepressants were recorded. Nonresponders to a ntidepressant therapy had significantly higher pretreatment P300 laten cy and P200 amplitude than responders to treatment (P = 0.006) and nor mal volunteers (P = 0.0004). Conclusions: The findings may suggest tha t delayed P300 latency as well as increased P200 amplitude accompany m ajor depression and may predict a nonresponse to subsequent antidepres sive therapy. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.