Prediction of treatment response in major depression: The relationship between the serotonin-related LDAEP and the unspecific prediction related to anterior cingulate cortex activity

Different approaches have been investigated in the last years in order to predict treatment response in major depression. One successful way has been the use of the loudness dependency of the auditory evoked potential (LDAEP) in order to define the activity-level of the central serotonin system (Hegerl et al., 2001). Subjects with a high loudness dependency (corresponding to a low activity of the central serotonin system) have thus been found to respond to SSRI treatment better than subjects with low loudness dependency (Mulert et al., 2002). Another successful way to predict treatment response is based on studies of Mayberg et al., suggesting that an increased activity in the anterior cingulate before treatment is related to a distinct treatment response (Mayberg et al., 1997). In the present study we combine both approaches in the same group of patients with major depression.

Hegerl, U., Gallinat, J., and Juckel, G., 2001. Event-related potentials. Do they reflect central serotonergic neurotransmission and do they predict clinical response to serotonin agonists? J Affect Disord 62, 93–100.

Mayberg, H. S., Brannan, S. K., Mahurin, R. K., Jerabek, P. A., Brickman, J. S., Tekell, J. L., Silva, J. A., McGinnis, S., Glass, T. G., Martin, C. C., and Fox, P. T., 1997. Cingulate function in depression: a potential predictor of treatment response. Neuroreport 8, 1057–1061.

Mulert, C., Juckel, G., Augustin, H., and Hegerl, U., 2002. Comparison between the analysis of the loudness dependency of the auditory N1/P2 component with LORETA and dipole source analysis in the prediction of treatment response to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram in major depression. Clin Neurophysiol 113, 1566–1572.