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

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