Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28761811›Full record

SynthesisNeuroImage. Clinical2017

Frontal alpha asymmetry as a diagnostic marker in depression: Fact or fiction? A meta-analysis.

Nikita van der Vinne, Madelon A Vollebregt, Michel J A M van Putten, Martijn Arns

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in NeuroImage. Clinical, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 141 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
141citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

141 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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81 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Nikita van der VinneResearch Institute Brainclinics, Bijleveldsingel 34, 6524 AD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Madelon A VollebregtResearch Institute Brainclinics, Bijleveldsingel 34, 6524 AD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Michel J A M van PuttenDept. of Clinical Neurophysiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Martijn ArnsResearch Institute Brainclinics, Bijleveldsingel 34, 6524 AD, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFrontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) has frequently been reported as potential discriminator between depressed and healthy individuals, although contradicting results have been published. The aim of the current study was to provide an up to date meta-analysis on the diagnostic value of FAA in major depressive disorder (MDD) and to further investigate discrepancies in a large cross-sectional dataset.

methodsSCOPUS database was searched through February 2017. Studies were included if the article reported on both MDD and controls, provided an FAA measure involving EEG electrodes F3/F4, and provided data regarding potential covariates. Hedges' d was calculated from FAA means and standard deviations (SDs). Potential covariates, such as age and gender, were explored. Post hoc analysis was performed to elucidate interindividual differences that could explain interstudy discrepancies.

results16 studies were included (MDD:

conclusionsThe main result was a non-significant, negligible ES, demonstrating limited diagnostic value of FAA in MDD. The high degree of heterogeneity across studies indicates covariate influence, as was confirmed by crosssectional analyses, suggesting future studies should address this Gender × Age × Depression severity interaction. Upcoming studies should focus more on prognostic and research domain usages of FAA rather than a pure diagnostic tool.

Indexed as

Alpha RhythmDepressionElectroencephalographyFrontal LobeHumansDepressionEEGElectroencephalogramFrontal alpha asymmetryMDDMeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID28761811
PMCPMC5524421

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.