Selected Psychophysiological Measures in Depression: The Significance of Electrodermal Activity, Electroencephalographic Asymmetries, and Contingent Negative Variation to Behavioral and Neurobiological Aspects of Depression

Although the phenomenon of depression has been described in one form or another since the time of Hippocrates, major advances in understanding the etiology, course, and treatment of depression have come only recently. These advances include an increased understanding of the genetics and epidemiology of depression, as well as the development of pharmacological and cognitive interventions for the disorder. Psychophysiologically-based studies hold potential for further elucidating the nature and biological mechanisms of depression. Well-chosen psychophysiological paradigms, which measure the physiological manifestations of psychological processes and conditions, can link the underlying pathophysiology of depression to observable facets of the disorder. Psychophysiological studies can also provide a means for identifying unseen characteristics that may signal a liability for the development of depression in individuals (Iacono, 1991; Iacono & Ficken, 1989).

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