Electroencephalogram (EEG) Signal Analysis for Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): A Review

Abstract

Depression or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric disorder. It is the major contributor to overall global burden of disease. Any deterioration in brain functioning is reflected in Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. EEG signals are highly complex, nonstationary and nonlinear. So, it is very difficult to analyze visually and identify changes in the waveform in order to classify MDD and normal subjects. Thus, computerized quantitative EEG is used for the analysis of signals. Support Vector Machine (SVM) using band power feature reported an accuracy of 98.33% and using Kernel Eigen-Filter-Bank Common Spatial Patterns (KEFB-CSP) gave an accuracy of 91.67% [1, 2]. Logistic Regression (LR) using band power feature reported an accuracy of 98.33%, using 4 nonlinear features combination provided an accuracy of 90%, using wavelet transform provided an accuracy of 87.5% and using only alpha power gave an accuracy of 73.3% [1, 3, 4]. Naïve Bayesian (NB) using band power feature provided an accuracy of 96.8% [1]. Artificial Neural Network using Relative Wavelet Energy (RWE) reported an accuracy of 98.11%, using power spectrum feature gave accuracy of 84% and using Lep–Ziv complexity accuracy of 60–80% was reported [5, 6, 7]. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) reported an accuracy of 91.2% using SASI (Spectral Asymmetry Index) and DFA (Detrended Fluctuation Analysis) [8]. Decision Tree provided an accuracy of 80% using EEG band power as feature [9]. The study reveals that, in general, high classification accuracy is achieved by SVM, LR and ANN and highest classification accuracy of 98.33% is achieved by SVM. Highest accuracy is achieved by SVM because it is more robust and computationally more efficient due to maximal margin gap between separating hyper planes and kernel trick. The study gives some ideas which could be helpful for guiding and improving future researches. Since linear and nonlinear method for feature extraction are both equally efficient. So any of the linear/nonlinear feature can be used. For feature selection and reduction, Genetic Algorithm (GA), Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) can be used. Since SVM, LR and ANN give high classification accuracy and any of them can be used or any hybrid technique like GA-SVM, GA-ANN can be used. This chapter compares various EEG signal analysis techniques, compares their accuracy and methodology used and finally recommends the most suitable technique based on the accuracy for detection of depression. The chapter also summarizes some of the key finding related to EEG features based on present state of art. These results could be helpful for guiding and improving the future research in this area.