Authors' objectives:

The objective of the report was to analyze the clinical usefulness of quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) as regards its present indications.

Authors' results and conclusions: Two consensuses from American scientific societies assessing its main applications were found. The report also includes the main studies found. There is a 1997 report from the American Academy of Neurology summarizing the evidence available to the moment. Despite some methodological limitations to the standards were later pointed out; its main recommendations will be reviewed herein. In addition, Coburn et al. reviewed the usefulness of qEEG in mental diseases. His work shows the point of view the American Neuropsychiatric Association s Research Committee has adopted on this subject. The set of studies found shows a high rate of false positive results due to the use of multiple devices during the recording and to statistical problems during the signaling process which contribute to find pathological patterns in normal recordings. Also, other methodological limitations are detected: lack of proper definition of professional indications and standards for evaluation, lack of determination of the optimal number of channels in the equipment, lack of demonstration of its accrued value over existing tests and lack of validation of the databases it is compared against.

Authors' recommendations: Except for a few indications, quantitative electroencephalography is still at investigational stage. It is worth pointing out that the first requirement is the EEG standard readout by a qualified specialist. qEEG can be considered as a supplementary technique for later analysis only. Its indications could be summarized herein, always considering that its global usefulness is low and that for many conditions, its clinical application remains uncertain: Clinical conditions where it might be useful: Detection of epileptogenic foci in patients with confirmed epilepsy who meet criteria to be potential candidates to surgery, always using other techniques and for the diagnosis of drug-related cognitive impairment. Monitoring of selected intensive care unit patients to early detect intracranial complications. Clinical conditions where its use is more controversial (when diagnosis could not be made by usual tools): Detection of structural disease and progression in dementias, detection, identification with normal cognitive impairment and of vascular cause, when diagnosis could not be clearly made using other tools. Suspicion of less frequent forms of dementia. Differentiation of depression from dementia. Differentiation of encephalopathy from non convulsive epileptic coma Evaluation of ischemic foci in patients with cerebrovascular disease symptoms for which conventional imaging studies and EEG are not conclusive. Diagnosis of attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity Clinical conditions for which it is not useful or is in an investigational stage. Assessment of patients with depression. Learning and attention disorders in children. Assessment of patients with head trauma. Diagnosis of Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Alcohol and drug use (for example, cocaine) follow-up. Assessment of patients with migraine.

Authors' methods: Overview

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.iecs.org.ar/

Year Published: 2007

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Argentina

Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy

Contact Address: Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires - Argentina, C1414 CABA

Contact Name: info@iecs.org.ar

Contact Email: info@iecs.org.ar

Copyright: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)