EEG microstates as biomarkers of drug-naïve major depressive disorder in young adults with non-suicidal self-injury

Background

Resting-state networks within the brain manifest a dynamic interplay of stable and transient topological configurations, recognized as microstates. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is considered to involve abnormal neural activity and connectivity. However, the specific patterns of EEG microstates in major depressive disorder patients (MDD) with NSSI remain unclear.

Methods

We obtained resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) from 102 drug-naïve MDD patients—46 with NSSI behavior, and 56 without—alongside 50 healthy controls. Employing the EEG microstate analysis method, we computed the principal indicators for four distinct classic microstates (A-D), encompassing duration, occurrence, time coverage, and transitional probability.

Results

Compared to the HC group and nNSSI group, the NSSI group showed significantly increased coverage for microstate C. The HC and NSSI groups demonstrated similar performances in microstates A and B. Additionally, HCs had higher coverage and duration of microstate D than both MDD patients (NSSI and nNSSI). We also observed heightened transition probabilities from microstates A and D to C in the NSSI group. In all MDD patients, the frequency of NSSI across time frames (past 1 month, 6 months, 1 year) exhibits a positive correlation with the coverage of microstate C.

Conclusion

Young adults with drug-naïve MDD and NSSI behavior exhibit unique microstate dynamics. These results imply that EEG microstates C could potentially be utilized as neurobiological markers to identify NSSI in individuals with MDD.