Biomarkers of threat and reward sensitivity demonstrate unique associations with risk for psychopathology.

Abstract

Two emotional/motivational constructs that have been posited to underlie anxiety and depressive disorders are heightened sensitivity to threat and reduced sensitivity to reward, respectively. It is unclear, though, whether these constructs are only epiphenomena or also connote risk for these disorders (and relatedly, whether they connote risk for separate disorders). Using family history of psychopathology as an indicator of risk, the present study examined whether biomarkers of sensitivity to threat (startle potentiation) and reward (frontal EEG asymmetry) were associated with similar or different familial liabilities. In addition, the present study examined whether these biomarkers were associated with risk independent of proband DSM-IV diagnosis. One hundred seventy-three individuals diagnosed with panic disorder (PD), early-onset major depressive disorder (MDD), both (comorbids), or controls completed two laboratory paradigms assessing sensitivity to predictable/unpredictable threat (measured via startle response) and reward (measured via frontal EEG asymmetry during a gambling task). Results indicated that across all participants: 1) startle potentiation to unpredictable threat was associated with family history of PD (but not MDD) and 2) frontal EEG asymmetry while anticipating reward was associated with family history of MDD (but not PD). Additionally, both measures continued to be associated with family history of psychopathology after controlling for proband DSM-IV diagnosis. Results suggest that the proposed biomarkers of sensitivity to unpredictable threat and reward exhibit discriminant validity and may add to the predictive validity of the DSM-IV defined constructs of PD and MDD, respectively.

Anxiety sensitivity and the anticipation of predictable and unpredictable threat: Evidence from the startle response and event-related potentials

“…Greater physical concerns, the ASI-3 dimension most closely connected with risk for panic disorder (Schmidt et al, 1999; van Beek & Griez, 2003), was associated with heightened potentiation in anticipation of unpredictable threat only. This result is consistent with a previous investigation that found a heightened startle response in anticipation of unpredictable (but not predictable) threat was associated with a familial history (i.e., risk) of PD, independent of current anxiety (Nelson et al, 2013). However, the present study and Nelson et al were both cross-sectional and it is unclear whether physical concerns or a heightened sensitivity to unpredictable threat predicts the development of PD, or, alternatively, whether they are concurrent risk factors.…”

I don’t care about others’ approval: Dysphoric individuals show reduced effort mobilization for obtaining a social reward

“…For instance, depression and dysphoria have been linked to a reduced frontal electroencephalogram asymmetry during reward anticipation (Shankman et al, 2013). These findings are complemented by evidence for depressed individuals' blunted feedback-related negativity-a frontally maximal event-related potential associated with reward processing-to monetary gains and losses (e.g., Bress, Smith, Foti, Klein, & Hajcak, 2012).…”

“…It concerns not only current states of depression but also recovered patients (McCabe, Cowen, & Harmer, 2009) and populations at risk (Gotlib et al, 2010;Nelson et al, 2013) and has predictive value for the development of depression (Bress, Foti, Kotov, Klein, & Hajcak, 2013). Moreover, reduced reward responsiveness in depression and dysphoria has been observed during both phases of reward processing: the motivational "anticipatory" phase (i.e., "reward wanting") as well as the "consummatory" outcome phase (i.e., "reward liking") (e.g., Forbes et al, 2009;Pizzagalli, Holmes, et al, 2009).…”

Mechanisms Underlying Motivational Deficits in Psychopathology: Similarities and Differences in Depression and Schizophrenia

“…(Sherdell et al 2012). In addition, individuals with depression or with a family history of depression show reduced frontal EEG asymmetries during reward anticipation (Shankman et al 2007(Shankman et al , 2013Nelson et al 2013Nelson et al , 2014. Further, a recent meta-analysis on neural processing of rewards in depression found evidence for <reduced>?…”