Research › QEEG, Methods & Mechanisms
Evidentiary Significance of Routine EEG in Refractory Cases: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatry
STS Instructor Authored by Robert Turner
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Study at a glance
- Area
- QEEG, Methods & Mechanisms
- Study type
- Observational study
- Authors
- Swatzyna RJ, Morrow LM, Collins DM, Barr EA, Roark AJ, Turner RP
- Journal
- Clinical EEG and Neuroscience
- Year
- 2024
- Participants
- 1,233
Key findings
- EEGs from 1,233 psychiatric patients were reviewed by a single neurophysiologist
- Four EEG markers were linked to medication failure: focal slowing, spindling beta, encephalopathy and isolated epileptiform activity
- None of these markers can be picked up by standard psychiatric assessment
- Supports testing the brain directly when choosing treatment for refractory patients
Using EEGs collected since 2012 in a large psychiatric practice and all read by one board-certified neurophysiologist, this study looked for brain-based reasons why many patients fail repeated psychiatric medications. Among 1,233 patients, four EEG findings stood out in treatment-resistant cases: slowing in one region, spindling excessive beta, signs of encephalopathy, and isolated epileptiform discharges. Because these patterns cannot be seen in a normal psychiatric assessment and can show up as behavioural or psychiatric symptoms, the authors argue that EEG should be a first step toward more personalised psychiatric care.