Electroencephalogram Patterns in Infants of Depressed Mothers Público

Lusby, Cara Michael (2011)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/gx41mj077?locale=es
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Abstract


Abstract
Electroencephalogram Patterns in Infants of Depressed Mothers
By Cara M. Lusby
The goal of the current study was to examine the association between maternal prenatal
and postpartum depressive symptoms and infant electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry
scores. Participants were 66 women with a history of depression and/or anxiety and their
infants. Women were recruited during pregnancy and their depressive symptoms were
measured at multiple time points throughout pregnancy and the postpartum. Infant EEG
asymmetry scores were collected at 3 and 6 months of age, and mothers' concurrent
depressive symptoms were also measured. Maternal prenatal and postpartum depressive
symptoms separately did not predict infant EEG asymmetry scores at either age, nor did
the additive effect of the two variables. The interaction of maternal prenatal and
postpartum depressive symptoms did significantly predict infant EEG asymmetry scores
at 6 months of age, with a trend in the association at 3 months of age. Specifically, at
infant age 6 months, prenatal depressive symptoms and infant EEG asymmetry scores
were significantly associated among women with high postpartum depressive symptoms
only. Infant EEG asymmetry scores were consistent across contexts at both ages and
were stable across ages in the baseline and free play segments, but not feeding. Findings
highlight the importance of considering both prenatal and postpartum maternal depressive
symptoms in the prediction of infant EEG asymmetry scores, as well as pointing to the
need to further understand the differences between infants who display changes in
patterns versus those whose patterns are stable across ages.


Electroencephalogram Patterns in Infants of Depressed Mothers
By
Cara M. Lusby
B.A., Emory University, 2006
Advisor: Sherryl H. Goodman, Ph.D.
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the
James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies of Emory University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts
in Psychology
2011

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction…………..……………………………….………………….….....….….1
EEG and Emotion.….……………..………………………………………..…..…...2
EEG as a Vulnerability to Depression…………………………….….….....2
Infant EEG and Maternal Depression……………………………….…….….4
State Independence of Infant EEG Patterns…………………….….……7
Consistency of Infant EEG Patterns………………………………….….....8
Stability of Infant EEG Patterns…………………………………….…..……..8
Current Study…………………………………………..…………………….…..….11
Method………………………………………………………………………………......12
Participants……………………………………………..……………………….......12
Procedure…...……………………………………………………………………......14
Measures………………………………………………………………………….......15
Results…………………………………………………………………………………....18
Discussion………………………………………………………………………………..23
References……………………………………………………………………………….31
Table 1: Descriptive Statistics of Maternal Depression and

Infant EEG Variables…..................................................…36
Table 2: Intercorrelations among Maternal Demographic

Variables and Infant EEG Asymmetry Scores……….……….………37
Table 3: Hierarchical Regression Analyses for Maternal

Depression Variables Predicting Infant EEG Asymmetry

Scores……….............................................……………………….38
Table 4: Intercorrelations among Infant EEG Asymmetry

Scores……………….....................................................……..39
Table 5: Hierarchical Regression Analyses for Maternal

Depression Variables and 3 Month Infant EEG Asymmetry

Scores Predicting 6 Month Infant EEG Asymmetry Scores…….40
Figure 1: The Association between Infant 6 Month Baseline

EEG Asymmetry Scores and Maternal Prenatal and

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms…….........………………………...41

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