Electroencephalographic and perceptual asymmetry differences between responders and nonresponders to an SSRI antidepressant.

BACKGROUND

Recent reports suggest the value of electroencephalographic and dichotic listening measures as predictors of response to antidepressants. This study examines the potential of electroencephalographic alpha asymmetry and dichotic measures of perceptual asymmetry as predictors of clinical response to 12 weeks of treatment with fluoxetine (Prozac).

METHODS

Resting electroencephalography (eyes open and eyes closed) and dichotic listening with word or complex tone stimuli were assessed in depressed outpatients during a pretreatment period.

RESULTS

Fluoxetine responders (n = 34) differed from nonresponders (n = 19) in favoring left over right hemisphere processing of dichotic stimuli. They also differed in their resting electroencephalographic alpha asymmetry, particularly in the eyes open condition. Nonresponders showed an alpha asymmetry indicative of overall greater activation of the right hemisphere than the left, whereas responders did not. The relationship between hemispheric asymmetry and treatment response interacted with gender, being evident among depressed women but not men.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are consistent with the hypothesis that a characteristic tendency toward greater left than right hemisphere activation is associated with favorable response to fluoxetine, whereas the opposite hemispheric asymmetry predicts poor response.