EEG markers of adolescent depression

Abstract

Depression is currently one of the most common mental illnesses. It is expressed through mood disorders, loss of interest in life and habitual activities, and is accompanied by a number of other symptoms, which ultimately negatively affects performance and overall health. In addition, there is a proven link between the presence of depression and an increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. According to the World Health Organization, 280 million people worldwide suffer from depression.Moreover, over the past ten years, there has been an increase in rates of depression among young people.  Adolescence is accompanied by significant psychological changes that are closely related to the neurobiological processes of brain maturation. These changes may increase vulnerability to the development of depressive states, which highlights the need for in-depth study of this issue. An analysis of the scientific literature also revealed that there are practically no psychophysiological studies of depression among adolescents in Kazakhstan, despite the urgency of this problem. Along with various methodological approaches to the study of adolescent depression, we conducted psychometric measurements of the personality characteristics of adolescents with this disorder. In the empirical part of the study, correlations were found between the parameters of understanding emotional states and negative and positive affect. Adolescent depression promotes awareness of only negatively colored emotional states, and also reduces the ability to regulate positive experiences. The results can help in developing early diagnostic and intervention methods for adolescent depression and enhancing strategies for effective psychological support.