The Comparative Study Of The Neural Function Of The Anxiety Disorder Patients And The Depression Patients With The Utility Of SSR Neural Electrophysiological Technique

Objective: Based on the comparative results of sympathetic skin reflex(SSR) of the experimental groups consisted of depression Patients, anxiety disorder Patients, and healthy controls, this thesis offers the differences of the SSR amplitude and latencies between these three groups, which could provide an effective instruction in the prevention and treatment for the depression patients and anxiety disorder patients.Methods: According to the WHO Standards(1999) ICD-10 criteria, we enrolled 40 newly diagnosed depression patients(depression group) and 40 newly diagnosed anxiety patients(anxiety group), as well as 40 healthy controls, Hamilton Anxiety Scale or Hamilton Depression Scale was applied to all of the subjects by specialist. Electrophysiological studies were performed by specialist with a Keypoint.net electromyogram machine.SSR was performed in all the subjects. The active recording electrodes were placed at palms and plantar, while the reference electrode wera placed at opisthenar and dorsum pedis. The latencies and amplitude of SSR responses were recorded. Each subject was performed electrical stimulation twice. The stimulation interval was more than 1 minute in order to decrease the adaptation of the skin.Results: 1. The latencies of four limbs SSR in depression group were delayed compared with the control group, statistical significance was found between two groups(P<0.05). 2. The amplitudes of four limbs SSR in depression group were decreased compared with the control group, statistical significance was found between two groups(P<0.05). 3. The latencies of four limbs SSR in anxiety group were shortened compared with the control group, statistical significance was found between two groups(P<0.05). 4. The amplitudes of four limbs SSR in anxiety group were increased compared with the control group, statistical significance was found between two groups(P<0.05). 5. The latencies of four limbs SSR in depression group were delayed compared with the anxiety group, statistical significance was found between two groups(P<0.05).6. The amplitudes of four limbs SSR in depression group were decreased compared with the anxiety group, statistical significance was found between two groups(P<0.05).We did not find a correlation between SSR parameters and Hamilton Anxiety Scale or Hamilton Depression Scale in all the groups(P>0.05).Conclusions: SSR technique was performed easily and noninvasively for the wide clinic use. With the SSR electrophysiological testing method, there were distinctively differences between three groups of depression patients, anxiety disorder patients, and healthy people in the SSR latency and amplitude. Therefore, the SSR electrophysiological testing method could be an effective aid for the diagnosis of depression and anxiety disorder, and the study of the pathogenesis of depression and anxiety disorder and the research of SSR neural pathways, were also of great importance for the clinic prevention and treatment for the depression patients and the anxiety disorder patients.