Transdiagnostic psychopathology in the light of robust single-trial
event-related potentials
Abstract
Recent evidence indicate that event-related potentials (ERPs) as
measured on the electroencephalogram (EEG) are more closely related to
transdiagnostic, dimensional measures of psychopathology (TDP) than to
diagnostic categories. Given this, a comprehensive examination of
correlations between well-studied ERPs and measures of TDP is called
for. In this study, we recruited 50 patients with emotional disorders
undergoing 14 weeks of transdiagnostic group psychotherapy as well as 37
healthy comparison subjects (HC) matched in age and sex. HCs were
assessed once and patients three times throughout treatment (N = 172
datasets) with a battery of well-studied ERPs and psychopathology
measures consistent with the TDP framework The Hierarchical Taxonomy of
Psychopathology (HiTOP). ERPs were quantified using robust single-trial
analysis (RSTA) methods and TDP correlations with linear regression
models as implemented in the EEGLAB toolbox LIMO EEG. We found
correlations at several levels of the HiTOP hierarchy. Among these, a
reduced P3b as well as a reduced error-related negativity correlated
strongly with worse symptomatology across the Internalizing spectrum.
Conversely, increases in the correct-related negativity correlated with
symptoms loading unto the Distress subfactor in the HiTOP. Increases in
mismatch negativity were primarily related to maladaptive personality
traits at the lowest levels of the HiTOP hierarchy. Our study highlights
the advantages of RSTA methods and of using validated TDP constructs
within a consistent framework such as the HiTOP. Future studies could
utilize machine learning methods to predict TDP from a set of ERP
features at the subject level.