Quantitative EEG findings in patients with acute, brief depression combined with other fluctuating psychiatric symptoms: a controlled study from an acute psychiatric department
Bjørk, Marte Helene; Sand, Trond; Bråthen, Geir; Linaker, Olav Morten; Morken, Gunnar; Nilsen, Brigt; Vaaler, Arne
Abstract
Background: Patients with brief depressive episodes and concurrent rapidly fluctuating
psychiatric symptoms do not fit current diagnostic criteria and they can be difficult to diagnose and
treat in an acute psychiatric setting. We wanted to study whether these patients had signs of more
epileptic or organic brain dysfunction than patients with depression without additional
symptomatology.
Methods: Sixteen acutely admitted patients diagnosed with a brief depressive episode as well as
another concurrent psychiatric diagnosis were included. Sixteen patients with major depression
served as controls. Three electroencephalographic studies (EEG) were visually interpreted and the
background activity was also analysed with quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG).
Results: The group with brief depression and concurrent symptoms had multiple abnormal
features in their standard EEG compared to patients with major depression, but they did not show
significantly more epileptiform activity. They also had significantly higher temporal QEEG delta
amplitude and interhemispheric temporal delta asymmetry.
Conclusion: Organic brain dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of patients with brief
depressive episodes mixed with rapidly fluctuating psychiatric symptoms. This subgroup of
depressed patients should be investigated further in order to clarify the pathophysiology and to
establish the optimal evaluation scheme and treatment in an acute psychiatric setting.