Auditory event-related potentials in the course of antidepressant treatment: Latencies

Abstract

1. 1. In depressive patients (DSM-III-R) treated with amitriptyline or amitriptylin oxide, the authors evaluated cognitive functions and auditory event-related potentials (AERP) before (n = 29) and after therapy (n = 17). 2. 2. AERP were elicited by an oddball paradigm. Cognitive functions were evaluated by the Zahlen-Verbindungs-Test, the Zahlen-Symbol-Test, and the Benton-Test. 3. 3. The latency of N1 seemed to be increased significantly with therapy. This is discussed in the context of a processing negativity. 4. 4. The latency of the endogenous component P3 (P300) was found to be increased with cognitive disturbances and with age but not related to mood score. It was decreased significantly with therapy. 5. 5. The registration of P3 latency is an appropriate method to demonstrate cognitive impairment and improvement with therapy in a depressive episode.