Stable abnormalities of contrast discrimination sensitivity in subthreshold depression: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Subthreshold depression (StD), as a subclinical state, is highly prevalent and increases the risk for developing major depressive disorder (MDD). Although several studies have reported deficits of contrast sensitivity in MDD patients, it is unclear whether individuals with StD could demonstrate deficits of contrast sensitivity and whether the deficits could remain stable over time. Here we used a contrast discrimination task (a suprathreshold task) and a contrast detection task (a near‐threshold task) to compare contrast sensitivity of the StD group with that of matched non‐depressed controls. For each task, a spatial four‐alternative forced‐choice method and a psychophysical QUEST procedure were used to measure contrast discrimination threshold or contrast detection threshold. Participants performed an initial assessment and a follow‐up assessment 4 months later. Compared to the non‐depressed controls, individuals with StD demonstrated reduced contrast discrimination sensitivity, not only at the initial assessment but also at the follow‐up assessment, indicating a stable abnormality. Contrast discrimination thresholds at the initial assessment did not predict changes of depression symptom severity over time. For contrast detection sensitivity, there was no significant difference between the StD group and non‐depressed controls. We concluded that contrast discrimination testing might provide a trait‐dependent biomarker for depression.

State‐dependent alterations of implicit emotional dominance during binocular rivalry in subthreshold depression

“…We found that the depressive symptoms of the StD group significantly decreased from the first measurement to the second measurement. Such reductions of depressive symptoms were also reported in previous studies (Chen et al, 2022;Hegel et al, 2006;Hermens et al, 2004;Jeuring et al, 2016;Liao et al, 2022;Mei et al, 2020;van der Aa et al, 2015). The reduction may originate from individual characteristics, such as resilience and neuroticism, in some participants.…”

“…The results suggested that the remitted individuals demonstrated higher accuracy in identifying face emotions than the healthy individuals and the currently depressive individuals. On the other hand, trait-dependent abnormalities have also been reported for some psychophysical biomarkers (e.g., Chen et al, 2022;Douglas et al, 2012;Milders et al, 2010;Ruhe et al, 2019) and biological markers (e.g., Elliott et al, 2012;van der Vinne et al, 2019;van Eijndhoven et al, 2013;Xiong et al, 2021). For example, Milders et al (2010) investigated the stability of emotion recognition for patients with unipolar depression by a longitudinal design.…”

“…These participants included 34 individuals with subthreshold depression (StD; 24 females, mean age = 19.20 years, SD = 1.30, range 17–22 years) and 31 non‐depressed controls (NCs; 23 females, mean age = 19.48 years, SD = 1.09, range 18–22 years). Following previous studies (Chen et al, 2022; Li et al, 2017; Mei et al, 2020; Takagaki et al, 2014), we screened out these participants using a two‐stage procedure. First, 503 undergraduate students were required to complete two questionnaires: the Chinese versions of the Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II; Beck et al, 1996) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D; Radloff, 1991).…”

“…First, 503 undergraduate students were required to complete two questionnaires: the Chinese versions of the Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II; Beck et al, 1996) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D; Radloff, 1991). Note that we excluded the item “loss of interest in sex” in the BDI‐II to increase response rate in the undergraduate population, due to the relatively conservative culture (Chen et al, 2022; Mei et al, 2020; Mumford et al, 2005). As a result, 461 questionnaires where intact data and contact information were provided were valid.…”

Reduced contrast sensitivity, pattern electroretinogram ratio, and diminished a-wave amplitude in patients with major depressive disorder

“…Our finding of a diminished contrast sensitivity in a larger cohort of MDD patients aligns with the results of previous studies [5,8], which also reported reduced visual contrast discrimination performance and contrast sensitivity in MDD. Accordingly, Chen et al [57] showed attenuated contrast discrimination sensitivity in patients with subthreshold depression. The observed reduced contrast sensitivity could reflect an altered dopaminergic neurotransmission involved in the pathophysiology of MDD [5,58].…”