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. 2022 May:171:108345.
doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108345. Epub 2022 May 5.

Association of lifetime major depressive disorder with enhanced attentional sensitivity measured with P3 response in young adult twins

Sini M Koskinen  1 , Jyrki Ahveninen  2 , Teija Kujala  3 , Jaakko Kaprio  4 , Brian F O'Donnell  5 , Daria Osipova  6 , Richard J Viken  7 , Risto Näätänen  8 , Richard J Rose  9
Affiliations

Association of lifetime major depressive disorder with enhanced attentional sensitivity measured with P3 response in young adult twins

Sini M Koskinen et al. Biol Psychol. 2022 May.

Abstract

Major depression is associated with alterations in the auditory P3 event-related potential (ERP). However, the persistence of these abnormalities after recovery from depressive episodes, especially in young adults, is not well known. Furthermore, the potential influence of substance use on this association is poorly understood. Young adult twin pairs (N = 177) from the longitudinal FinnTwin16 study were studied with a psychiatric interview, and P3a and P3b ERPs elicited by task-irrelevant novel sounds and targets, respectively. Dyadic linear mixed-effect models were used to distinguish the effects of lifetime major depressive disorder from familial factors and effects of alcohol problem drinking and tobacco smoking. P3a amplitude was significantly increased and P3b latency decreased, in individuals with a history of lifetime major depression, when controlling the fixed effects of alcohol abuse, tobacco, gender, twins' birth order, and zygosity. These results suggest that past lifetime major depressive disorder may be associated with enhanced attentional sensitivity.

Keywords: Event-Related Potentials; Major Depressive Disorder; P3; Twin Study; Young Adults.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
EEG results. (Left) Group averages and standard errors of the mean (SEM) of Novelty-related P3 amplitude in the three EEG electrode set locations. The data show the enhancement of Novelty-related P3 in individuals with a history of depression diagnosis. (Right) Group averages of Target-related P3 latencies. The data show the acceleration of Target-related P3 processing in individuals with a history of depression diagnosis. The statistical significance was determined using the FDR procedure of Benjamini and Hochberg (1995).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Grand-average event-related potential (ERP) difference waves (novel minus standard) in “Most depressive” and “Least depressive” twins, indicating an increase of P3 amplitude for the novel sounds associated with lifetime major depression. “Most depressive” twins (N = 9) are those who have had all 9 depression symptoms and “Least depressive” twins (N = 9) are randomly selected from those who have had no symptoms. These subgroups are drawn from the total ERP twin sample.
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