Pharmacopsychiatry 2003; 36 - 219
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-825462

Auditory evoked P300 and treatment response to donepezil versus placebo in patients with Alzheimer’s disease

O Pogarell 1, C Schulz 1, F Müller-Siecheneder 1, G Juckel 1, T Frodl 1, R Mergl 1, G Laux 2, HJ Möller 1, U Hegerl 1
  • 1Dept. of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
  • 2Psychiatric Hospital, Gabersee, Germany

Objective: To investigate auditory evoked P300, which is related to central cholinergic function, and its relationship to treatment response to donepezil in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (1, 2).

Methods: 30 AD patients received electrophysiological evaluations (P300, auditory oddball paradigm, dipole-source-analysis) within a 12 week double-blind, placebo-controlled study with donepezil. Treatment response (change in ADAS-cog) was analyzed after stratification of donepezil and placebo patients (n=16 and 14 respectively) according to high/low P300 amplitudes at baseline.

Results: There was a significant association of P300 amplitudes at baseline and mean change in ADAS-cog scores. The corresponding analyses in the placebo group did not show statistically significant differences.

Conclusion: This pilot study data provides preliminary evidence that P300 and dipole source analysis may be a useful tool to predict treatment response to donepezil in AD patients.

1. Hegerl, U. et al. Psychiatry Res 74 (1997):109–118.

2. Frodl, T. et al. Psychophysiology 39 (2002): 175–181.