Effect of Harmonic Sounds on a Depressive Episode with Depersonalization in Recurrent Depressive Disorder
Study Objective: To attempt to impair steady pathological condition (depression with depersonalization) with harmonic sounds in order to potentially reduce or eliminate both depression and depersonalization. Study Design: descriptive study, clinical and physiological study. Materials and Methods. We examined 31 patients aged 18 to 40 years (mean age: 29.3 ± 1.2 years) with a depressive episode in recurrent depressive disorder. All patients had background electroencephalogram (EEG) (16 channels) recorded. Then, EEGs were subjected to spectral analysis using Brainlog, which identified maximum extremes (with the amplitude exceeding adjacent harmonic frequencies) and minimum extremes (with the amplitude lower than adjacent harmonic frequencies). Clinical condition of patients was assessed following each piece of sounds (using subjective feelings). Hamilton depression scale was filled out before first sounds and after the session (4–6 sound pieces). Each patient had 5 to 15 sound exposure sessions. Study Results. A stable result after 15 sessions of harmonic sounds was absent in 9 (29.03%) cases. 5 (16.13%) subjects had complete remission with depersonalization reduction after harmonic sound exposure, that did not recur during 6-month follow-up. Partial remission was recorded in 17 (54.84%) individuals. During the 6-month follow-up, only one patient with asthenic remission did not have any antirelapse treatment. The other 16 subjects had anti-relapse treatment. Complete remission with elimination of depersonalization was recorded in 4 cases; 10 other observations demonstrated fluctuating depressive symptoms. Bad mood could cause depersonalization, but it was less marked. Stable depersonalization disorders, independent of depressed mood, persisted only in 2 individuals. Conclusion. Exposure to harmonic sounds in accordance with minimum and maximum extremes (repetition factor 2n) results in reduction or complete disappearance of depression with depersonalization in 70.97% of cases. The recorded reorganisation of amplitude-frequency fluctuations and all EEG rhythm intensity facilitate impairment of stable pathological associations in brain. Keywords: depression, depersonalization, harmonic sound.