Characteristics Of Event-related Potential P300in Depression Types Of Hepatic Qi Stasnationand Cardiosnlenic Deficiency

Background:Depression is one common types of mood disorders marked with prominent and persistent lowered mood. Although its treatment with western medicine (such as antidepressants) has been demonstrated effective, the significant side-effects of the medication have resulted in patients’ poor compliance. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has also proven to be effective in treating depression, fortunately with fewer side effects. There are indeed various genres of TCM syndrome differentiation, but the quantified criteria are still not unified. Therefore, we used the P300component of the event-related cerebral potentials to assess the cognitive dysfunctions in patients with the common depression types of hepatic Qi stagnation and the cardiosplenic deficiency, the purpose of the present study was to search for the characteristics and clinical significance of P300in these two types.Method:Sixty-four patients with depression (30with hepatic Qi stagnation and34with cardiosplenic deficiency) met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were chosen from a hospital in Hangzhou during December of2011and December of2013. Thirty gender and age matched healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. All participants had undergone an auditory evoked ERP test. The P300amplitudes and latencies were record at Fz, Cz and Pz electrode sites. The Hamilton Depressive Scale (HAMD) was also applied to assess their depressed levels.Results:The P300amplitude was reduced in patients with cardiosplenic deficiency compared to patients with hepatic Qi stagnation and to healthy controls, while the P300latencies were prolonged in both patient groups. In both patient groups, HAMD scores were significantly higher than healthy controls did, while patients with cardiosplenic deficiency scored higher than patients with hepatic Qi stagnation did. Conclusion:The cognitive dysfunction was more severe in patients with the cardiosplenic deficiency than those with the hepatic Qi stagnation was, supporting the depression-classification canalized by the TCM experience.