Mosabbir Abdullah A, Braun Janzen Thenile, Al Shirawi Maryam, Rotzinger Susan, Kennedy Sidney H, Farzan Faranak, Meltzer Jed, Bartel Lee
Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, CAN.
Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, Toronto, CAN.
Cureus. 2022 Feb 24;14(2):e22557. doi: 10.7759/cureus.22557. eCollection 2022 Feb.
Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a persistent psychiatric condition and one of the leading causes of global disease burden. In a previous study, we investigated the effects of a five-week intervention consisting of rhythmic gamma frequency (30-70 Hz) vibroacoustic stimulation in 20 patients formally diagnosed with MDD. In that study, the findings suggested a significant clinical improvement in depression symptoms as measured using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), with 37% of participants meeting the criteria for clinical response. The goal of the present research was to examine possible changes from baseline to posttreatment in resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) recordings using the same treatment protocol and to characterize basic changes in EEG related to treatment response. Materials and methods The study sample consisted of 19 individuals aged 18-70 years with a clinical diagnosis of MDD. The participants were assessed before and after a five-week treatment period, which consisted of listening to an instrumental musical track on a vibroacoustic device, delivering auditory and vibrotactile stimulus in the gamma-band range (30-70 Hz, with particular emphasis on 40 Hz). The primary outcome measure was the change in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) from baseline to posttreatment and resting-state EEG. Results Analysis comparing MADRS score at baseline and post-intervention indicated a significant change in the severity of depression symptoms after five weeks (t = 3.9923, df = 18, p = 0.0009). The clinical response rate was 36.85%. Resting-state EEG power analysis revealed a significant increase in occipital alpha power (t = -2.149, df = 18, p = 0.04548), as well as an increase in the prefrontal gamma power of the responders (t = 2.8079, df = 13.431, p = 0.01442). Conclusions The results indicate that improvements in MADRS scores after rhythmic sensory stimulation (RSS) were accompanied by an increase in alpha power in the occipital region and an increase in gamma in the prefrontal region, thus suggesting treatment effects on cortical activity in depression. The results of this pilot study will help inform subsequent controlled studies evaluating whether treatment response to vibroacoustic stimulation constitutes a real and replicable reduction of depressive symptoms and to characterize the underlying mechanisms.
重度抑郁症（MDD）是一种持续性精神疾病，也是全球疾病负担的主要原因之一。在之前的一项研究中，我们对20名正式诊断为MDD的患者进行了为期五周的节律性伽马频率（30 - 70赫兹）振动声刺激干预，并研究了其效果。在该研究中，结果表明，使用蒙哥马利 - 阿斯伯格抑郁评定量表（MADRS）测量，抑郁症状有显著临床改善，37%的参与者达到临床反应标准。本研究的目的是使用相同的治疗方案，检查静息态脑电图（EEG）记录从基线到治疗后的可能变化，并描述与治疗反应相关的EEG基本变化。
研究样本包括19名年龄在18 - 70岁之间、临床诊断为MDD的个体。参与者在为期五周的治疗期前后接受评估，治疗期包括在振动声设备上听一段器乐曲目，在伽马波段范围（30 - 70赫兹，特别强调40赫兹）提供听觉和振动触觉刺激。主要结局指标是蒙哥马利 - 阿斯伯格抑郁评定量表（MADRS）从基线到治疗后以及静息态EEG的变化。
比较基线和干预后MADRS评分的分析表明，五周后抑郁症状严重程度有显著变化（t = 3.9923，自由度 = 18，p = 0.0009）。临床反应率为36.85%。静息态EEG功率分析显示枕叶阿尔法功率显著增加（t = -2.149，自由度 = 18，p = 0.04548），以及反应者前额叶伽马功率增加（t = 2.8079，自由度 = 13.431，p = 0.01442）。
结果表明，节律性感觉刺激（RSS）后MADRS评分的改善伴随着枕叶区域阿尔法功率的增加和前额叶区域伽马功率的增加，从而表明对抑郁症皮质活动的治疗效果。这项初步研究的结果将有助于为后续对照研究提供信息，评估对振动声刺激的治疗反应是否构成抑郁症状的真实且可重复的减轻，并确定其潜在机制。
