Academic Journal
Frontal alpha asymmetry is associated with chronic stress and depression, but not with somatoform disorders.
| Title: | Frontal alpha asymmetry is associated with chronic stress and depression, but not with somatoform disorders. |
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| Authors: | Périard IA; Research Group 'Brain-Body Interaction', Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité University Medical Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Developmental and Cognitive Psychology, University of Regensburg. Regensburg, Germany., Dierolf AM; Research Group 'Brain-Body Interaction', Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg., Lutz A; Research Group 'Brain-Body Interaction', Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg., Vögele C; Research Group 'Brain-Body Interaction', Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg., Voderholzer U; Schoen Clinic Roseneck, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany; Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany., Koch S; Schoen Clinic Roseneck, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany., Bach M; Practice for Psychosomatics and Stress Medicine, Vienna, Austria., Asenstorfer C; Salzkammergut Clinic Vöcklabruck, Vöcklabruck, Austria., Michaux G; Research Group 'Brain-Body Interaction', Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; GesondheetsZentrum, Fondation Hôpitaux Robert Schuman, Luxembourg, Luxembourg., Mertens VC; Research Group 'Brain-Body Interaction', Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg., Schulz A; Research Group 'Brain-Body Interaction', Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Trier University, Trier, Germany. Electronic address: andre.schulz@uni.lu. |
| Source: | International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology [Int J Psychophysiol] 2024 Jun; Vol. 200, pp. 112342. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Apr 11. |
| Abstract: | Cardinal characteristics of somatoform disorders (SFDs) are worry of illness, and impaired affective processing. We used relative frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA), a method to measure functional lateralization of affective processing, to investigate psychobiological correlates of SFDs. With alpha activity being inversely related to cortical network activity, relative FAA refers to alpha activity on the right frontal lobe minus alpha activity on the left frontal lobe. Less relative left frontal activity, reflected by negative FAA scores, is associated with lower positive and greater negative affectivity, such as observed in depression. Due to its negative affective component (illness anxiety), we expected to find less relative left frontal activity pattern in SFDs, and positive associations with self-reported chronic stress and depression symptoms. We recorded resting-state EEG activity with 64 electrodes, placed in a 10-10 system in 26 patients with a primary SFD, 23 patients with a major depressive disorder and 25 healthy control participants. The groups did not differ in FAA. Nevertheless, across all participants, less relative left frontal activity was associated with chronic stress and depression symptoms. We concluded that FAA may not serve as an indicator of SFDs. As the relationship of FAA and depressive symptoms was fully mediated by chronic stress, future studies have to clarify whether the association between FAA and chronic stress may represent a shared underlying factor for the manifestation of mental health complaints, such as depression. Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors has to declare a potential conflict of interest. (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.) |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 8406214 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1872-7697 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01678760 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Psychophysiol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Amsterdam ; New York : Elsevier, [c1983- |
| MeSH Terms: | Alpha Rhythm*/physiology , Somatoform Disorders*/physiopathology , Stress, Psychological*/physiopathology , Frontal Lobe*/physiopathology , Depression*/physiopathology, Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Functional Laterality/physiology ; Chronic Disease ; Electroencephalography ; Young Adult |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Chronic stress; Depression; Frontal alpha asymmetry; Illness anxiety; Somatoform disorders |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20240413 Date Completed: 20240526 Latest Revision: 20240526 |
| Update Code: | 20240527 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2024.112342 |
| PMID: | 38614440 |
| ISSN: | 1872-7697 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2024.112342 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |