Loudness dependent auditory evoked potentials and suicidality in depression – A meta-analysis with replication in unmedicated patients

Josephine M. Tyron, Cheng Teng Ip, Martin B. Jørgensen, Kristian H.R. Jensen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a risk factor for suicide. Loudness-Dependent Auditory Evoked Potentials (LDAEP) is an electroencephalographic biomarker of central serotonergic activity associated with MDD and suicidality. Yet, studies on the matter are conflicting. We therefore: 1) Conducted a meta-analysis to clarify the relation between LDAEP, past suicide attempts and current suicidality in MDD, and 2) replicated the findings in independent data of unmedicated patients with MDD. Methodology: 1) 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The difference in scalp LDAEP between patients with and without past suicide attempts was estimated using Hedge's g. The correlation between scalp LDAEP and suicidality was estimated using Fisher's Zr. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess methodological differences. The review was preregistered (PROSPERO). 2) We examined the associations above within an independent cohort of 88 unmedicated patients with MDD. The analyses were preregistered (AsPredicted.org) and used to update the meta-analysis. Results: In the initial meta-analysis, scalp LDAEP was not associated with past suicide attempts (g = 0.11 [−0.23, 0.46], p = 0.53) or correlated with suicidality (Zr = 0.06 [−0.15, 0.27], p = 0.60). In the independent cohort, scalp LDAEP was also not associated with past suicide attempts (g = 0.05 [−0.56, 0.65] t(86) = 0.15, p = 0.88) or correlated with suicidality (Zr = 0.11 [−0.1, 0.33] r = 0.11 [−0.10, 0.32], p = 0.30). In the updated meta-analysis, scalp LDAEP continued not to be associated with suicide attempts (g = 0.10 [−0.19, 0.39], p = 0.51) or suicidality (Zr = 0.06 [−0.12, 0.24], p = 0.50). Conclusion: LDAEP is not associated with past suicide attempts or suicidality in MDD, and LDAEP's usefulness in suicide prevention seems limited.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Affective Disorders
Volume372
Pages (from-to)18-26
Number of pages9
ISSN0165-0327
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
JMT and KHRJ were funded by the Research Fund of the Mental Health Services \u2013 Capital Region of Denmark (R432-2023-94) and CTI by the University of Macau (SRG2023\u201300040-ICI). The Lundbeck Foundation BrainDrugs alliance (R279-2018-1145) also funded KHRJ and CTI. The Innovation Fund Denmark (4108-00004B) supported the NeuroPharm-1 study.

Funding Information:
JT and KRJ were funded by the Research Fund of the Mental Health Services \u2013 Capital Region of Denmark (R432-2023-94) and CTI by the University of Macau ( SRG2023\u201300040-ICI ). The Lundbeck Foundation alliance BrainDrugs ( R279-2018-1145 ) also funded KRJ and CTI. The Innovation Fund Denmark ( 4108-00004B ) supported the NeuroPharm-1 study.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors

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