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For several decades, resting electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha oscillations have been used to characterize neurophysiological alterations related to major depressive disorder. Prior research has generally focused on frontal alpha power and asymmetry despite resting alpha being maximal over posterior electrode sites. Research in depressed adults has shown evidence of hemispheric asymmetry for posterior alpha power, however, the resting posterior alpha-depression link among adolescents remains unclear. To clarify the role of posterior alpha among depressed adolescents, the current study acquired eyes-closed 128-channel resting EEG data from 13 to 18 year-old depressed (n = 31) and healthy (n = 35) female adolescents. Results indicated a significant group by hemisphere interaction, as depressed adolescents exhibited significantly larger posterior alpha (i.e., lower brain activity) over the right versus left hemisphere, whereas healthy adolescents showed no hemispheric differences. Relatively greater alpha over the right versus left hemisphere correlated with depression symptoms, anhedonia symptoms, rumination, and self-criticism. Further, depressed adolescents had reduced overall posterior alpha compared to healthy youth; though, no associations with symptoms and related traits emerged. Resting posterior alpha may be a promising neurophysiological index of adolescent depression, and more broadly, may relate to risk factors characterized by enhanced perseveration. • Depressed youth are characterized by increased resting posterior alpha asymmetry. • Depressed youth exhibit reduced overall posterior alpha compared to healthy youth. • Posterior alpha asymmetry correlates with depression-related symptoms and traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality are serious health concerns; however, factors that contribute to the transition from NSSI to suicide ideation and suicide attempts are unclear. To address this gap, we investigated whether demographic characteristics, child maltreatment, and psychiatric factors are associated with the level suicidality among adolescents with a history of self-injury. Participants were three groups of adolescent inpatient self-injurers ( n = 397, 317 female), aged 13–18 years ( M = 15.44, SD = 1.36): (a) non-ideators ( n = 96; no current suicide ideation and no lifetime suicide attempts), (b) suicide ideators ( n = 149; current ideation and no lifetime attempts), and (c) suicide attempters ( n = 152; current ideation and at least one lifetime attempt). Participants completed interviews assessing psychiatric diagnoses, suicidality, and NSSI characteristics, as well as questionnaires on childhood trauma, psychiatric symptoms, and risky behavior engagement. Depression severity was associated with greater odds being a suicide ideator ( p < 0.001, OR = 1.04) and an attempter ( p < 0.001, OR = 1.05) compared to a non-ideator. Suicide attempters used more NSSI methods and reported greater risky behavior engagement than non-ideators ( p = 0.03, OR = 1.29 and p = 0.03, OR = 1.06, respectively) and ideators ( p = 0.015, OR = 1.25 and p = 0.04, OR = 1.05, respectively); attempters used more severe NSSI methods (e.g., burning). Our results identify a wide range of risk markers for increasing lethality in a sample at high risk for suicide mortality; future research is needed to refine risk assessments for adolescent self-injurers and determine the clinical utility of using risk markers for screening and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]