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EUDOR-A multi-centre research program : A naturalistic, European Multi-centre Clinical study of EDOR Test in adult patients with primary depression

Sarchiapone, Marco ; Iosue, Miriam ; Carli, Vladimir ; Amore, Mario ; Baca-Garcia, Enrique ; Batra, Anil ; Cosman, Doina ; Courtet, Philippe ; Di Sciascio, Guido and Gusmao, Ricardo , et al. (2017) In BMC Psychiatry 17(1). p.1-9
Abstract

Background: Electrodermal reactivity has been successfully used as indicator of interest, curiosity as well as depressive states. The measured reactivity depends on the quantity of sweat secreted by those eccrine sweat glands that are located in the hypodermis of palmar and plantar regions. Electrodermal hyporeactive individuals are those who show an unusual rapid habituation to identical non-significant stimuli. Previous findings suggested that electrodermal hyporeactivity has a high sensitivity and a high specificity for suicide. The aims of the present study are to test the effectiveness and the usefulness of the EDOR (ElectroDermal Orienting Reactivity) Test as a support in the suicide risk assessment of depressed patients and to... (More)

Background: Electrodermal reactivity has been successfully used as indicator of interest, curiosity as well as depressive states. The measured reactivity depends on the quantity of sweat secreted by those eccrine sweat glands that are located in the hypodermis of palmar and plantar regions. Electrodermal hyporeactive individuals are those who show an unusual rapid habituation to identical non-significant stimuli. Previous findings suggested that electrodermal hyporeactivity has a high sensitivity and a high specificity for suicide. The aims of the present study are to test the effectiveness and the usefulness of the EDOR (ElectroDermal Orienting Reactivity) Test as a support in the suicide risk assessment of depressed patients and to assess the predictive value of electrodermal hyporeactivity, measured through the EDOR Test, for suicide and suicide attempt in adult patients with a primary diagnosis of depression. Methods and design: 1573 patients with a primary diagnosis of depression, whether currently depressed or in remission, have been recruited at 15 centres in 9 different European countries. Depressive symptomatology was evaluated through the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale. Previous suicide attempts were registered and the suicide intent of the worst attempt was rated according to the first eight items of the Beck Suicide Intent Scale. The suicide risk was also assessed according to rules and traditions at the centre. The EDOR Test was finally performed. During the EDOR Test, two fingers are put on gold electrodes and direct current of 0.5 V is passed through the epidermis of the fingers according to standards. A moderately strong tone is presented through headphones now and then during the test. The electrodermal responses to the stimuli represent an increase in the conductance due to the increased number of filled sweat ducts that act as conductors through the electrically highly resistant epidermis. Each patient is followed up for one year in order to assess the occurrence of intentional self-harm. Discussion: Based on previous studies, expected results would be that patients realizing a suicide attempt with a strong intent or committing suicide should be electrodermally hyporeactive in most cases and non-hyporeactive patients should show only few indications of death intent or suicides. Trial registration: The German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00010082. Registered May 31st, 2016. Retrospectively registered.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Depression, Electrodermal hyporeactivity, Intentional self-harm, Skin conductance, Suicidal behaviour, Suicide
in
BMC Psychiatry
volume
17
issue
1
article number
108
pages
1 - 9
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:28330446
  • wos:000397313400001
  • scopus:85016133826
ISSN
1471-244X
DOI
10.1186/s12888-017-1246-x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f558bd0d-fc7a-475f-aa14-ef99d9698e5f
date added to LUP
2017-05-03 17:06:15
date last changed
2024-01-13 19:55:53
@article{f558bd0d-fc7a-475f-aa14-ef99d9698e5f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Electrodermal reactivity has been successfully used as indicator of interest, curiosity as well as depressive states. The measured reactivity depends on the quantity of sweat secreted by those eccrine sweat glands that are located in the hypodermis of palmar and plantar regions. Electrodermal hyporeactive individuals are those who show an unusual rapid habituation to identical non-significant stimuli. Previous findings suggested that electrodermal hyporeactivity has a high sensitivity and a high specificity for suicide. The aims of the present study are to test the effectiveness and the usefulness of the EDOR (ElectroDermal Orienting Reactivity) Test as a support in the suicide risk assessment of depressed patients and to assess the predictive value of electrodermal hyporeactivity, measured through the EDOR Test, for suicide and suicide attempt in adult patients with a primary diagnosis of depression. Methods and design: 1573 patients with a primary diagnosis of depression, whether currently depressed or in remission, have been recruited at 15 centres in 9 different European countries. Depressive symptomatology was evaluated through the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale. Previous suicide attempts were registered and the suicide intent of the worst attempt was rated according to the first eight items of the Beck Suicide Intent Scale. The suicide risk was also assessed according to rules and traditions at the centre. The EDOR Test was finally performed. During the EDOR Test, two fingers are put on gold electrodes and direct current of 0.5 V is passed through the epidermis of the fingers according to standards. A moderately strong tone is presented through headphones now and then during the test. The electrodermal responses to the stimuli represent an increase in the conductance due to the increased number of filled sweat ducts that act as conductors through the electrically highly resistant epidermis. Each patient is followed up for one year in order to assess the occurrence of intentional self-harm. Discussion: Based on previous studies, expected results would be that patients realizing a suicide attempt with a strong intent or committing suicide should be electrodermally hyporeactive in most cases and non-hyporeactive patients should show only few indications of death intent or suicides. Trial registration: The German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00010082. Registered May 31<sup>st</sup>, 2016. Retrospectively registered.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sarchiapone, Marco and Iosue, Miriam and Carli, Vladimir and Amore, Mario and Baca-Garcia, Enrique and Batra, Anil and Cosman, Doina and Courtet, Philippe and Di Sciascio, Guido and Gusmao, Ricardo and Parnowski, Tadeusz and Pestality, Peter and Saiz, Pilar and Thome, Johannes and Tingström, Anders and Wojnar, Marcin and Zeppegno, Patrizia and Thorell, Lars Håkan}},
  issn         = {{1471-244X}},
  keywords     = {{Depression; Electrodermal hyporeactivity; Intentional self-harm; Skin conductance; Suicidal behaviour; Suicide}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--9}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{EUDOR-A multi-centre research program : A naturalistic, European Multi-centre Clinical study of EDOR Test in adult patients with primary depression}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1246-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12888-017-1246-x}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}