Subsequent Changes In Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Reciprocal associations between physical activity, physical self-concept, somatic symptoms, and depression from adolescence to young adulthood: Disaggregating within- and between-person effects

The mechanisms by which physical activity may influence depressive symptoms, and vice versa, during adolescence are not well understood. The present study examined the longitudinal, reciprocal within-person associations between physical activity and depressive symptoms among a community-based sample of adolescents who were followed into young adulthood, while also estimating between-person effects and exploring physical self-concept and somatic symptoms as potential mediators. Data were from the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey (V-HYS), which followed adolescents (W1; N = 662; ages 12–18) biannually for ten years into young adulthood (W6; n = 478; ages 22–29). Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were specified to understand the within- and between-person associations between physical activity and depressive symptoms, as well as potential mediation by physical self-concept and somatic symptoms. Results showed anticipated between-person associations between physical activity, physical self-concept, somatic symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Although within-person increases in depressive symptoms predicted decreases in physical activity two years later, within-person deviations in physical activity did not significantly predict subsequent changes in depressive symptoms. Within-person cross-lagged associations between physical self-concept and depressive symptoms, as well as somatic symptoms and depressive symptoms, were significant and bidirectional in nature. Results are consistent with past research demonstrating the potential long-term and enduring health risks of depressive symptoms. Future research that uses a shorter timeframe between assessments (e.g., days or weeks) may further clarify the link between physical activity and depression, including potential mechanisms that explain why this association unfolds.

The bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and functional limitations among centenarian survivors in their 80s: Testing bivariate latent change score models

Objectives The purpose of the study was to examine a bivariate latent change score model of depressive symptoms and functional limitations (activities of daily living) among centenarian or near-centenarian survivors over four waves using the Health and Retirement Study. Method Four hundred and sixty participants who eventually survived to age 98 or older were included by calculating their death age. Data from the time when the participants were in their 80s were analyzed. The mean age at baseline (1994) was 85.5 years. The observation interval was 2 years, from 1994 to 2000. Including age, gender, and education as a covariate, eight different models were conducted to examine the bivariate effects among depressive symptoms and functional limitations. Results Of the eight models, the bivariate model of depressive symptoms predicting change in functional limitations fitted the data best. The parameter estimates of the final model indicated significant predictive pathways from depressive symptoms to subsequent changes in depressive symptoms and functional limitations. Conclusion This study tested the bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and functional limitations among centenarian survivors in their 80s, which uncovered that depressive symptoms is a dominant variable among the two constructs. Our findings add to a lacking number of longitudinal studies with oldest old adults.

Pubertal progression and its relationship to psychological and behavioral outcomes among adolescent boys

Variations in pubertal timing and tempo have relevance to psychosocial development. Accounting for pubertal timing, tempo, and psychosocial development simultaneously in a model remains challenging. This study aimed to document the typology of pubertal development in a cohort of Taiwanese adolescent boys and then to examine how the associations between psychosocial variables across time vary by the patterns of pubertal development. A group of adolescent boys (n = 1,368) reported pubertal signs and psychosocial variables for 3 years since seventh grade. The growth mixture model revealed three major classes of pubertal transition: average pubertal growth, late-onset with rapid catch-up, and late-onset with slow catch-up. In a cross-lagged panel model, the multigroup analysis found the regression coefficients mostly invariant across all three classes, except those between deviant behavior and subsequent changes in depressive symptoms that were significantly positive only in the late-onset with slow catch-up group. Adolescent boys in this group were estimated to have the highest marginal level of depressive symptoms and deviant behavior in ninth grade among the three classes. Our study highlights the heterogeneity in boys' pubertal development and the role of the pubertal development pattern in their psychosocial development.

Moderating Effect of Psychological Resilience on Functional Impairment in Relation to Subsequent Depression

The growing prevalence of functional impairment is a serious concern due to its relation to decreased quality of life in later life. Guided by the social convoy model and the stress process model, the present study investigated whether psychological resilience, particularly optimism and mastery moderated an association between functional impairment and subsequent depressive symptoms in later life. This study used data derived from two population-based national studies in the United States: 2012 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 5,035) and 2004 and 2013 waves of the Midlife in the United States (N = 2,476). Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the impact of optimism and mastery, respectively, on the associations between functional impairment (baseline measure at wave(t-1), changes over the study period from wave(t-1) to wave(t)) on subsequent changes in depressive symptoms. Across both studies, we found that having and developing functional impairment are related to increased number of depressive symptoms. Optimism independently predicted decreased depressive symptoms over the study periods and buffered the negative effects of functional impairment on depressive symptoms across the two studies. Specifically, the mitigating effects of optimism on depressive symptoms were greater for those with more numbers of functional limitations. The findings suggest that psychological resilience plays a key role in decreasing depressive symptoms, especially for midlife and older adults with functional impairment. The results also demonstrate the importance of examining both optimism and mastery when investigating psychological resilience and emotional well-being in older adults.

Depressive Symptoms and Frailty Among the Oldest Old: Evidence From a Multicenter Prospective Study

ObjectiveThere is a lack of studies disentangling whether changes in frailty are associated with subsequent changes in depressive symptoms or vice versa among the oldest old. Consequently, we aimed to disentangle this link. DesignThree waves [follow-up (FU) wave 7 to FU wave 9; n = 423 individuals in the analytical sample] were used from the multicenter prospective cohort study “Needs, Health Service Use, Costs and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Large Sample of Oldest-Old Primary Care Patients (85+)” (AgeQualiDe). Setting and ParticipantsPrimary care patients aged 85 years and older. MethodsThe Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) was used to quantify frailty, and the Geriatric Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. It was adjusted for several covariates (sociodemographic and health-related factors) in regression analysis. ResultsMultiple linear regressions with first differences showed that initial increases in depressive symptoms (from FU wave 7 to FU wave 8) were associated with subsequent increases in frailty (from FU wave 8 to FU wave 9; β = 0.06, P < .05), whereas initial increases in frailty (from FU wave 7 to FU wave 8) were not associated with subsequent increases in depressive symptoms (from FU wave 8 to FU wave 9). Conclusions and ImplicationsThe study findings suggest the relevance of increases in depressive symptoms for subsequent increases in frailty. Treatment of depressive symptoms may also be beneficial to postpone frailty.

Basic psychological need satisfaction across the retirement transition: Changes and longitudinal associations with depressive symptoms

Drawing on self-determination theory, the present study examined how satisfaction of the basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) changes across the retirement transition and how need satisfaction was related to depressive symptoms across the retirement transition. Participants (N = 2655) were drawn from the HEalth, Ageing and Retirement Transitions in Sweden (HEARTS) study. Latent growth curve modeling showed that autonomy need satisfaction increased across the retirement transition, whereas competence and relatedness remained relatively stable. Higher need satisfaction was related to less depressive symptoms at baseline, however, pre-retirement need satisfaction was not a statistically significant predictor of subsequent changes in depressive symptoms (or vice versa) across the retirement transition. At the within-person level, higher than usual need satisfaction at a specific time point was related to less than usual depressive symptoms. Need satisfaction may be an important factor to consider across the retirement transition and need satisfying activities prior, during, and after the transition may ease peoples’ adjustment to retirement.

Bidirectional longitudinal associations of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid plasma levels with depressive disorders

BackgroundTemporality of the association of low omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) plasma levels with depression remains questionable. To determine the underlying nature of these associations, this study examined the bidirectional longitudinal associations of n-3 PUFA plasma levels with (presence, onset and course of) depressive disorders and symptoms. MethodsBaseline (n = 2912, 28.6% with current depressive disorder) and 6-year follow-up data (n = 1966, 13.0% with current depressive disorder) of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) were used. Depression diagnoses and symptoms were based on psychiatric interviews and self-report questionnaires. N-3 PUFA levels (ratio of total fatty acids (mmol%)), were assessed using nuclear magnetic resonance. ResultsUsing two waves of data, n-3 PUFA levels were lower among depressed persons, as compared to healthy controls (Beta = −0.047, SE = 0.011, p < .001). Nevertheless, baseline n-3 PUFA levels were not consistently associated with subsequent change in depressive symptoms, onset or remission of depressive disorders over 6 years. Furthermore, the difference in n-3 PUFA levels detected at baseline between depressed and non-depressed participants tended to dissipate over 6 years (depression-by-time estimate: p = .011). Finally, subjects depressed both at baseline and at 6-year follow up had consistently lower n-3 PUFA levels over the entire follow-up as compared to those who had never been depressed. Change in depressive disorders across waves was not consistently accompanied by change in n-3 PUFA levels over time. LimitationsNo data on intermediate time points and EPA levels were available. ConclusionsDespite significant cross-sectional associations between n-3 PUFA plasma levels and depressive disorders and severity, this 6-year longitudinal study could not confirm an uni- or bidirectional association over time. The association between depression and n-3 PUFA plasma levels is unlikely to be causal.

Emotional Responses to Stressors in Everyday Life Predict Long-Term Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms.

Individuals' emotional responses to stressors in everyday life are associated with long-term physical and mental health. Among many possible risk factors, the stressor-related emotional responses may play an important role in future development of depressive symptoms. The current study examined how individuals' positive and negative emotional responses to everyday stressors predicted their subsequent changes in depressive symptoms over 18 months. Using an ecological momentary assessment approach, participants (n = 176) reported stressor exposure, positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA) five times a day for 1 week (n = 5,483 observations) and provided longitudinal reports of depressive symptoms over the subsequent 18 months. A multivariate multilevel latent growth curve model was used to directly link the fluctuations in emotions in response to momentary stressors in everyday life with the long-term trajectory of depressive symptoms. Adults who demonstrated a greater difference in stressor-related PA (i.e., relatively lower PA on stressor vs. nonstressor moments) reported larger increases in depressive symptoms over 18 months. Those with greater NA responses to everyday stressors (i.e., relatively higher NA on stressor vs. nonstressor moments), however, did not exhibit differential long-term changes in depressive symptoms. Adults showed a pattern consistent with both PA and NA responses to stressors in everyday life, but only the stressor-related changes in PA (but not in NA) predicted the growth of depressive symptoms over time. These findings highlight the important-but often overlooked-role of positive emotional responses to everyday stressors in long-term mental health.

Depressive Symptoms Predict Change in Telomere Length and Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Across Adolescence

Several studies have found associations between a diagnosis or symptoms of major depressive disorder and markers of cellular aging and dysfunction. These investigations, however, are predominantly cross-sectional and focus on adults. In the present study, we used a prospective longitudinal design to test the cross-sectional association between depressive symptoms in adolescents and telomere length (TL) as well as mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-cn). A total of 121 adolescents (mean age= 11.38 years, SD= 1.03; 39% male adolescents and 61% female adolescents) were followed for approximately 2 years. At baseline and follow-up, participants provided saliva for DNA extraction, from which measures of TL and mtDNA-cn were obtained. Depressive symptoms were obtained via the Children's Depression Inventory. There was no association between depressive symptoms and markers of cellular aging at baseline; however, depressive symptoms at baseline predicted higher rates of telomere erosion (β=-0.201, p= .016) and greater increases in mtDNA-cn (β= 0.190, p= .012) over the follow-up period. Markers of cellular aging at baseline did not predict subsequent changes in depressive symptoms. Furthermore, including the number of stressful life events did not alter these patterns of findings. These results indicate that depressive symptoms precede changes in cellular aging and dysfunction, rather than the reverse.

The cross-lagged relationship between interpersonal forgiveness and depression symptoms in China.

This study investigated the relationship between the process of forgiveness and depressive symptoms in China. A total of 116 college students who had experienced an interpersonal transgression "within the past week" were selected to perform the tracking measurements at 2-week intervals. Cross-lagged models showed that the victim's depressive symptoms were related to increasing revenge and avoidance motivations as well as decreased benevolence motivation; however, the revenge, avoidance, and benevolence motivations of the victims did not predict subsequent changes in depressive symptoms. These results confirm that the presence of depressive symptoms is a predictor of the reduced interpersonal forgiveness, and the alleviation of individuals' depressive symptoms plays a protective role in the adaptive process of interpersonal relationships.

Evidence of Bidirectional Associations Between Depressive Symptoms and Body Mass Among Older Adults.

Body fat, measured with body mass index (BMI), and obesity are associated with depressive symptoms. Among younger adults there is stronger evidence of obesity leading to depressive symptoms than of depressive symptoms leading to obesity, but the temporal relationship is unknown among older adults. This study utilized dual-change-score models (DCSMs) to determine the directional relationship between body mass and depressive symptoms among older adults. Participants (n = 1,743) from the Swedish Twin Registry (baseline age range 50-96 years) completed at least one assessment of BMI (nurse measurement of height and weight) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CESD). More than half the sample completed 3 or more assessments, scheduled at intervals of 2-4 years. DCSMs modeled the relationship of BMI and CESD across age, both independently and as part of bivariate relationships. Depressive symptoms contributed to subsequent changes in BMI after age 70, while BMI contributed to subsequent changes in depressive symptoms after age 82. Thus, there is a reciprocal relationship that may change with age. The effect was more pronounced for women. The association of BMI and depressive symptoms is bidirectional among older adults, and it appears to be affected by both age and sex.

The Role of Dyadic Discord in Outcomes in Acute Phase Cognitive Therapy for Adults With Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and relationship discord between cohabiting partners frequently co-occur, with bidirectional effects established. As relationship quality influences understanding and treatment of MDD, the current analyses clarified the relations of pretreatment dyadic discord with outcomes during and at the end of acute phase cognitive therapy (CT) for adults with recurrent MDD. Married or cohabiting patients (n = 219) completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DYS) before and after a 16–20 session, 12–14 week CT protocol. Lower levels of dyadic adjustment indicated higher levels of dyadic discord. Response to CT was defined as the absence of a major depressive episode and ≤ 12 on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Pretreatment dyadic discord, whether defined as a continuous or categorical variable (using DYS cutoff score of 97), was not associated with treatment completion or response but was positively associated with levels of depressive symptoms at the end of acute phase CT. Furthermore, CT was associated with declines in dyadic discord, with 23.3% of initially discordant couples moving to nondiscordant status at the end of CT. Depressive symptoms did not significantly mediate changes in dyadic discord. Finally, pre- (but not mid-) treatment dyadic discord was associated with subsequent changes in depressive symptoms, suggesting limited mediation. These findings replicate prior research indicating that individual CT is associated with reductions in depressive symptoms and dyadic discord while clarifying that lower pre-treatment dyadic discord may predict initial improvement in depressive symptoms.

Self-perceptions of aging mediate the longitudinal relationship of hopelessness and depressive symptoms.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the hypothesis that the prospective relationship between hopelessness and depressive symptoms is mediated by self-perceptions of aging. Data from 3 waves of the US Health and Retirement Study (2008, 2012, and 2014) were used (N=4606; age M=65.3, 55.5% female). In mediation analyses, hopelessness in 2008 was the independent variable, self-perceptions of aging in 2012 were the mediator, and depressive symptoms in 2014 were the outcome variable. After controlling for covariates, hopelessness in 2008 was an independent predictor of self-perceptions of aging in 2012 (β=-.10, P<.001), and self-perceptions of aging in 2012 was an independent predictor of depressive symptoms in 2014 (β=-.41, P<.001). Hopelessness in 2008 showed both direct (β=.09, P<.001) and indirect (β=.03, P<.001) effects on depressive symptoms in 2014, indicating partial mediation by change in self-perceptions of aging. As hypothesized, change in self-perceptions of aging partially mediated the relationship of hopelessness with depressive symptoms 6years later. Findings are consistent with a conceptualization of hopelessness as broad negative expectations about the future that may contribute to negative self-perceptions of aging and subsequent changes in depressive symptoms. Reducing hopelessness, increasing hope, and improving self-perceptions of aging have potential to reduce and prevent depressive symptoms for older adults. Future research should examine the mechanisms of these interrelationships and other aging outcomes.

Mechanisms of change in cognitive therapy for major depressive disorder in the community mental health setting.

This study examined the relation of change in theory-relevant cognitive variables to depressive symptom change over the course of cognitive therapy, as well as the specificity of change mechanisms to cognitive therapy as compared with dynamic therapy. There were 237 adult outpatients who were randomized to either cognitive (n = 119) or dynamic (n = 118) therapy for major depressive disorder in a community mental health setting. Assessments of compensatory skills (Ways of Responding Community Version and Self-Report Version), dysfunctional attitudes (Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale), and depressogenic schemas (Psychological Distance Scaling Task) were obtained at baseline and months 1, 2, and 5 following baseline. Primary outcome was measured using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Across both therapy conditions, change in all 3 cognitive domains was associated with concurrent change in depressive symptoms. After controlling for other cognitive variables, increased interconnectedness of the positive achievement-related schema was significantly associated with concurrent symptom change in cognitive (rp = .26, p < .001) but not dynamic therapy (rp = .08, p = .29). Increases in positive compensatory skills were associated with subsequent change in depressive symptoms in cognitive therapy (rp = -.36, p = .003), but not in dynamic therapy (rp = .11, p = .386). Results provide support for the compensatory skills model of cognitive therapy (CT) within a community mental health setting. Additional research is necessary to understand other possible mechanisms of change in CT in the community setting. (PsycINFO Database Record

Disentangling the complex relation of disability and depressive symptoms in old age - findings of a multicenter prospective cohort study in Germany.

Most of the previous studies attempted to disentangle the relationship between disability and depressive symptoms were limited to observation periods of only few years. Moreover, evidence is missing regarding the complex co-occurrence of disability and depressive symptoms in old age in Germany. In order to close the research gap, we aimed at disentangling the complex co-occurrence of disability and depressive symptoms in old age in Germany over a longer time frame. Based on data from a representative survey of the German general population aged 75 years and older, the course of disability as well as depressive symptoms was observed every 1.5 years over six waves. While disability was quantified by the Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. Taking into account the complex co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and disability, a panel vector autoregressive model was used. By taking the first differences, unobserved heterogeneity was taken into account. In the total sample and in both sexes, we revealed a robust positive association between an initial change in depressive symptoms and subsequent changes in disability. No robust association between an initial change in disability and a subsequent change in depressive symptoms was detected. Our findings highlight the importance of changes in depressive symptoms for future changes in disability in old age.

Anxiety and Depression in Children of Depressed Parents: Dynamics of Change in a Preventive Intervention

The current study examined effects of a preventive intervention on patterns of change in symptoms of anxiety and depression in a sample of children of depressed parents. Parents with a history of depression (N = 180) and their children (N = 242; 50% female; Mage = 11.38; 74% Euro-American) enrolled in an intervention to prevent psychopathology in youth. Families were randomized to a family group cognitive behavioral intervention (FGCB) or a written information (WI) control condition. Parents and youth completed the Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self Report at baseline, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow up. Youth in the FGCB intervention reported significantly greater declines in symptoms of both anxiety and depression at 6, 12, and 18 months compared to youth in the WI condition. Youth with higher baseline levels of each symptom (e.g., anxiety) reported greater declines in the other symptom (e.g., depression) from 0 to 6 months in the FGCB intervention only. Changes in anxiety symptoms from 0 to 6 months predicted different patterns of subsequent changes in depressive symptoms from 6 to 12 months for the two conditions, such that declines in anxiety preceded and predicted greater declines in depression for FGCB youth but lesser increases in depression for WI youth. Findings inform transdiagnostic approaches to preventive interventions for at-risk youth, suggesting that both initial symptom levels and initial magnitude of change in symptoms are important to understand subsequent patterns of change in response to intervention.

Abstract WP308: Changes in Depressive Symptoms From the Hospital Setting to Outpatient Clinic Among Ischemic Stroke Patients

Introduction: Depression is prevalent after ischemic stroke and is associated with increased morbidity. No studies have described subsequent changes in depressive symptoms detected during the acute stage of stroke. Hypothesis: We sought to assess changes in depressive symptoms from hospitalization to clinic follow-up and to explore variables associated with worsening depressive symptoms at clinic follow-up. Methods: Ischemic strokes (7/14- 7 /15) were identified from the stroke prevention clinic registry. Prior to hospital discharge, patients are screened for depressive symptoms using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9; range 0 - 27) and then re-assessed in clinic. Higher scores reflect more severe symptoms. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between change in PHQ-9 and age, sex, race, baseline NIHSS, mRS, and antidepressant use. Results: Among 160 ischemic stroke patients, 82 had both baseline and follow-up PHQ-9 scores. Median time to follow-up was 41.5 days (IQR 35-50). Mean age was 60.7 (SD 14.5) and 40.2% were female. Median PHQ-9 scores were 2 (IQR 0, 5) and 5.5 (IQR 1, 10) for inpatient and clinic, respectively. During inpatient stay, 67% of patients had 0 to minimal depressive symptoms; 31.7% mild to moderate; and 1.3% moderately severe to severe. At follow-up 43.9% had 0 to minimal symptoms; 46.3% mild to moderate; and 9.7% moderately severe to severe symptoms. There was a statistically significant increase in PHQ-9 at follow-up [mean change 2.79 (SD 5.7); paired t-test p &lt; 0.001] and a significant difference in depression category (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, p &lt; 0.0001). Neither age, sex, race, marital status, admission NIHSS, baseline or clinic mRS, nor antidepressant treatment were associated with change in depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms were more severe at clinic follow-up for ischemic stroke patients who were initially screened during hospitalization. Depression screening should be repeated at clinic follow-up.

Change in obsessive-compulsive symptoms mediates subsequent change in depressive symptoms during exposure and response prevention

ObjectiveThe current study examines the temporal relationship between changes in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and changes in depressive symptoms during exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). MethodParticipants were 40 adults (53% female) who received EX/RP in a randomized controlled trial comparing serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) augmentation strategies. Participants completed clinician-administered assessments of OCD (Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale) and depressive symptoms (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) every four weeks from baseline to 32-week follow-up. ResultsLagged multilevel mediational analyses indicated that change in OCD symptoms accounted for 65% of subsequent change in depressive symptoms. In contrast, change in depressive symptoms only partially mediated subsequent change in OCD symptoms, accounting for 20% of the variance in outcome. ConclusionsThese data indicate that reductions in co-morbid depressive symptoms during EX/RP for OCD are largely driven by reductions in obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Are Improvements in Cognitive Content and Depressive Symptoms Correlates or Mediators during Acute-Phase Cognitive Therapy for Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder?

The cognitive model of depression posits that cognitive therapy's (CT) effect on depressive symptoms is mediated by changes in cognitive content (e.g., automatic negative thoughts dysfunctional attitudes, failure attributions). We tested improvement and normalization of cognitive content among outpatients (N = 523) with recurrent major depressive disorder treated with acute-phase CT (Jarrett & Thase, 2010; Jarrett et al., 2013). We also tested whether improvement in cognitive content accounted for subsequent changes in depressive symptoms and vice versa. Five measures of content improved substantively from pre- to post-CT (median d = 0.96), and the proportions of patients scoring in "healthy" ranges increased (median 45% to 82%). Evidence for cognitive mediation of symptom reduction was limited (median r = .06), as was evidence for symptom mediation of cognitive content improvement (median r = .07). We discuss measurement and design issues relevant to detection of mediators and consider alternative theories of change.

AS06-02 - Can we use changes in prefrontal function to predict antidepressant response in bipolar disorder?

There are no clinically useful biomarkers for the prediction of treatment response in bipolar depression (BD). One of the best-documented markers of response to an antidepressant therapy in patients with unipolar depression is a decrease in quantitative electroencephalography measure of prefrontal cordance in theta frequency band (Leuchter et al., 2010). The aim of our study was to examine whether the change of theta prefrontal cordance after one week of various antidepressive interventions predicts response to a 4-week treatment in patients with BD. We enrolled 24 inpatients into the study. Theta prefrontal cordance was computed at baseline and after 1 week of treatment. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Twenty patients finished the study. Seven of 8 responders and only 2 of 12 non-responders showed a decrease in prefrontal theta cordance after the first week of drug administration (p = 0.02). Using the decrease of prefrontal cordance value as a predictor of treatment response yielded Positive Predictive value of 0.78 and Negative Predictive Value of 0.91. We also found higher baseline theta cordance in responders. Nevertheless when baseline cordance and cordance change entered into the logistic regression model, only the latter emerged as a predictor of response (p = 0.007; correctly classified 85% cases). The change in prefrontal theta cordance was associated with subsequent change in depressive symptoms and potentially might be a useful marker of response to antidepressive interventions in BD patients (Bares et al., 2011). Supported by a grant MSMT 1M0517.