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EPA-1112 - Can Eye Movements be Used as a Marker for Major Depression?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2020

E. Nouzova
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
S.A. Beedie
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
S. Bheemaraddi
Affiliation:
Adult Psychiatry, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
J. Kuriakose
Affiliation:
Royal Cornhill Hospital, Division of Mental Health, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
M. Kulkarni
Affiliation:
Royal Cornhill Hospital, Division of Mental Health, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
A.J. Shand
Affiliation:
Adult Psychiatry, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
N. Walker
Affiliation:
Dumfries and Galloway Health Board, Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries, United Kingdom
D. St Clair
Affiliation:
Royal Cornhill Hospital, Division of Mental Health, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
P.J. Benson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Abstract

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No externally validated tests are available for routine use to confirm clinical diagnosis of major psychiatric disorders. Eye movement abnormalities that distinguish schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have only recently been described. Evidence of oculomotor dysfunction specific to endogenous major depressive disorder (MDD) would represent discovery of a significant endophenotypic interface between psychotic and affective disorders. Out-patients meeting DSM criteria for MDD (n=68, F:M=40:28, median age=49 (IQR 38-57) years) participated in a series of tasks while eye movements were recorded using an EyeLink 1000 infra-red video tracker. Patients' characteristics at time of assessment included median illness duration of 13 years (IQR= 7-23; n=53 available cases), HADS anxiety=11 (IQR 7-15) and depression=9 (IQR 4-11), BDI=27 (IQR 16-33), BPRS= 25 (IQR 20-29) and estimated IQ= 106 (IQR 96-118; n=42). Performance measures from smooth pursuit, picture viewing, and steady fixation were analysed alongside data from controls, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder cases. A neural network was able to delineate the clinical and control groups with sensitivity=90.4% and specificity=97.1%. Multivariate tests of group differences post hoc revealed that MDD cases were on average poorest in maintaining steady gaze during the fixation task, mirroring the neuropsychological evidence for dysregulation of executive function in prefrontal brain regions. Bipolar and unipolar affective cases performed similarly on smooth pursuit and picture viewing tests, but were systematically different from schizophrenia and control groups. If differences are replicated in further cases, the MDD eye movement marker could be an important tool for psychiatric research, allowing for easier delineation of the major disorders.

Type
EPW17 - Depression 2
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2014
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