Cognitive restructuring and EEG in major depression

Abstract

Techniques based on cognitive therapy and electroencephalography (EEG) were used to investigate the predictive utility of EEG alpha power with regard to mood improvement. Controls and individuals with major depression participated in four EEG recording blocks. Blocks 1 and 4 were resting baselines. During Block 2, Ss were asked to think about their “most troubling life difficulty.” Next, Ss were introduced to cognitive views of depression and techniques used in cognitive therapy. For Block 3, Ss were asked to use these methods to think again about their life difficulty. Ss who reported greater post- than pre-intervention happiness (i.e., “Responders”) exhibited greater overall cortical activity than Non-responders. Depressed Responders further exhibited a cortical asymmetry of greater right relative to left activity in frontal areas. The predictive utility of EEG is discussed with regard to identifying individuals who show mood improvement following cognitive restructuring.