TY - JOUR PY - 2013// TI - Electrodermal hyporeactivity as a trait marker for suicidal propensity in uni- and bipolar depression JO - Journal of psychiatric research A1 - Thorell, L. H. A1 - Wolfersdorf, Manfred G. A1 - Straub, R. A1 - Steyer, J. A1 - Hodgkinson, S. A1 - Kaschka, W. P. A1 - Jandl, M. SP - 1925 EP - 1931 VL - 47 IS - 12 N2 - BACKGROUND: A meta-analysis of studies investigating electrodermal activity in depressed patients, suggested that electrodermal hyporeactivity is sensitive and specific for suicide. AIMS: To confirm this finding and to study electrodermal hyporeactivity relative to type and severity of depression, trait anxiety, its stability and independence of depressive state. METHOD: Depressed inpatients (n = 783) were tested for habituation of electrodermal responses and clinically assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the STAI-Trait scale for trait anxiety. RESULTS: The high sensitivity and specificity of electrodermal hyporeactivity for suicide were confirmed. Its prevalence was highest in bipolar disorders and was independent of severity of depression, trait anxiety, gender and age. Hyporeactivity was stable, while reactivity changed into hyporeactivity in a later depressive episode. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the hypothesis that electrodermal hyporeactivity is a trait marker for suicidal propensity in depression.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0022-3956 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.08.017 ID - ref1 ER -