P300 event-related brain potential and personality in depression

P300 is an event-related brain potential (ERP) particularly interesting to the study of cognitive processes in normal subjects and in psychopathology. P300 has been applied in depression with controversial results. A major so urce for these controversial results could result from the diversity of dep ressed patients included in the different studies. Supporting this assumpti on, impulsivity, blunted affect, suicidal behavior and psychotic features s ignificantly influence P300 amplitude. However, no data are available on th e possible influences of the personality of depressed patients on P300. Sin ce personality is related to P300 in normal subjects, the aim of the presen t study is to investigate the relationship between ERPs (P200, N200, and P3 00) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in 54 depressed patie nts. The main results of the study concern the absence of major correlation s between personality dimensions as assessed by the TCI and ERP parameters among depressed patients. Only weak partial positive correlations relate N2 00 latency with harm avoidance, and P300 amplitude (Pz) with the self-direc tedness dimension. N200 amplitude is also negatively correlated to persiste nce. However, the preliminary nature of the presented results with respect to the weak statistical significance should be underlined. (C) 2000 Edition s scientifiques et medicates Elsevier SAS.