Electroencephalographic studies in various psychiatric disorders

Abstract

Objective The purpose of our study was to determine the electroencephalographic result among  psychiatric consultations.

Materials and methods EEG recordings from psychiatric consultation patients at the department and faculty of medicine, Chiang Mai University from 2007-2015 were reviewed.  Patients with previous history of seizure disorders were excluded. Out of a total of 220 recordings were 127 females; mean age: 34.8 years old. All consultations were to diagnose seizure disorders. Associated factors such as psychiatric medications, number of psychiatric medications, diagnosis and clinical history of presence or absence of of paroxysmal behavioral change were analyzed by using chi-square or  the Fisher’s exact test.

Results EEG results were normal (74.1%). Patients with history of paroxysmal behavioral change had EEG result statistical significant by comparison with patients without history, in which the epileptiform potential waves were increased in the former group. Only Benzodiazepine had statistical significant association with EEG findings in which increased beta activities was observed. However, increased beta activities had tendency to be observed in antidepressant, antipsychotic and increased number of psychiatric medication groups, even though no statistical significant. We observed very low yield of epileptiform potential wave (1.4%) in our study. There were no statistical significant association between diagnosis and EEG results.

Conclusion Most EEG results were normal. EEG screening in psychiatric patients had little value to diagnose seizure disorders. Anyhow, EEG should be considered in patients with history of paroxysmal behavioral change.