Validity and reliability of electroencephalographic frontal alpha asymmetry and frontal midline theta as biomarkers for depression

Abstract

Electroencephalographic (EEG) frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) and frontal midline (FM) theta have been suggested as biomarkers for depression and anxiety, but have mostly been assessed in small and non-clinical studies. In a clinical sample of 79 adults with depression (ICD-10: F32), resting EEG and scales of depression (MADRS) and anxiety (HADS-A) were measured at intake and after 3 months. FAA and FM theta values were referenced to a normative population database. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and correlations with psychiatric tests were examined. Reliability was sufficient. However, FAA and FM theta values were close to the general population, and correlations with psychiatric tests were mostly small and non-significant, with the exception of FAA on F7-F8 z-scores and HADS-A. We conclude that the validity of FAA and FM theta and therefore their potential as biomarkers for depression and anxiety remain unclear.

Personalized Medicine: Review and Perspectives of Promising Baseline EEG Biomarkers in Major Depressive Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…EEG alpha asymmetry has been investigated as a biomarker for MDD with a decreased alpha power at right frontal sites relative to the left side [82,83,84,85,86], although many studies have failed to replicate these findings [81,87,88,89,90,91]. Interestingly in ADHD, Keune et al [92] found the opposite pattern of alpha asymmetry with increased right frontal alpha power.…”

Using Neurofeedback to Lower Anxiety Symptoms Using Individualized qEEG Protocols: A Pilot Study

“…These training protocols consisted of amplitude uptraining and/or downtraining of selected frequency bands based on qEEG findings. Protocol selections were based on current research and reflect markers found to be associated with anxiety issues (Dantendorfer et al, 1996;Demerdzieva & Pop-Jordanova, 2011;Gold, Fachner, & Erkkilä, 2013;Gunkelman, 2006;Gurnee, 2000;Heller, Nitschke, Etienne, & Miller, 1997;Johnstone, Gunkelman, & Lunt, 2005;Machleidt, Gutjahr, Muegge, & Hinrich, 1985;Price & Budzynski, 2009;Savostyanov et al, 2009;Siciliani, Schiavon, & Tansella, 1975;Stern, 2005, p. 196;Tharawadeepimuk & Wongsawat, 2014;Walker, 2009 Note. Combined sites = two 10/20 sites adjacent to selected 10/10 site.…”

Investigating the ability of post-stroke EEG measures of brain dysfuntion to inform early prediction of cognitive impairment or depression outcomes

“…interhemispheric electrode pairs and depressive symptoms measured using the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) (Gold et al, 2013). Similar results were found in a small sample of older participants (>65 years old) including depressed (n=12), remitted (n=8) and control subjects.…”

“…Frontal alpha asymmetry was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms in 79 adults with DSM-IV diagnosed (Gold et al, 2013). A mild but nonsignificant positive correlation was found between frontal alpha asymmetry in F7-F8…”