Stimulus Intensity Dependent ERP Components in the Pharmacotherapy of Major Depressive Disorder

The introductory chapter gives an overview on the epidemiology and on both established as well as newer hypotheses of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of depressive disorders. The EEG and ERP methodology and the theoretical background and methodological aspects of stimulus intensity dependent ERP components (IDAP) are introduced as well. Chapters 2 to 6 present 5 original articles that have been either published or accepted for publication in medical journals. The results of our research on the IDAP in relation to the effectiveness of treatment with serotonergic versus noradrenergic antidepressants is described. Thus, the predictive value of the IDAP as a biological marker of central nervous serotonergic neurotransmission in major depression under clinical conditions is evaluated. Furthermore, the IDAP in medication-free depressed patients and mentally healthy subjects is compared. Finally, associations between certain somatic symptoms of depression and! the IDAP are analyzed. In Chapter 7, the main conclusions of the presented studies are summarized and discussed. Some hypotheses for future research are suggested.