# Neurophysiological features in women with antenatal depressive symptoms: a resting-state quantitative electroencephalography study

## TL;DR

This study explores brain activity patterns in pregnant women with depressive symptoms using EEG, finding distinct electrical signals that may help identify antenatal depression.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific qEEG patterns associated with antenatal depressive symptoms, suggesting potential for objective assessment.

## Key findings

- Women with higher EPDS scores showed increased beta power in frontal brain areas.
- Alpha and theta band asymmetry was observed at specific electrode sites and correlated with depressive symptoms.
- qEEG patterns differ between women with and without antenatal depressive symptoms.

## Abstract

Antenatal depression, which is prevalent during pregnancy, frequently continues into the postpartum period. We aimed to investigate the potential neurophysiological brain changes in women exhibiting antenatal depressive symptoms, using resting-state quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) patterns as an objective indicator.

Pregnant women with high-risk conditions were included and evaluated for antenatal depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), then divided into groups based on an EPDS score of 10. Resting-state qEEG recordings were then obtained to assess relative power topography within classical frequency bands, comparing these measures across the two groups and examining their correlation with EPDS scores.

Among 36 participants, 12 scored ≥ 10 on the EPDS, indicative of significant depressive symptoms, while 24 scored < 10. Those with scores ≥ 10 exhibited heightened beta power in frontal areas (Fz and F4; p < 0.05), along with significant alpha and theta band asymmetry at the T3/T4 (r = 0.383, p = 0.021) and P3/P4 (r = 0.369, p = 0.027) sites respectively, positively correlating with EPDS scores.

Depressive symptoms were solely evaluated according to the EPDS, which is a screening tool. Additional limitations include the cross-sectional study design and the relatively small sample size, necessitating cautious interpretation of the results.

The distinct qEEG patterns observed in women with EPDS scores ≥ 10 highlight the potential of qEEG as an objective indicator for assessing antenatal depression.