DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i05.079

Pages: 2294-2296

Frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) has frequently been reported as a potential discriminator between depressed and healthy individuals, although contradicting results have been published. The aim of the current study was to observe relationship between FAA in major depressive disorder (MDD). It is observed that unstable anterior EEG asymmetry in depressed patients may derive from the fact that other clinical symptoms, which often accompany mood disorders, but do not represent core symptoms of depression, could also have an impact on asymmetric brain activation. In particular, different forms of anxiety are associated with different patterns of asymmetric hemispheric activation, thereby raising the issue that a comorbidity of depression and anxiety may conversely affect EEG topography. It is conceivable, that different clinical symptoms obscure EEG literalities and vary over time. However, it was beyond the scope of this study to investigate the influence of possible mediator variables like different forms of anxiety.