Electroencephalogram Findings In Attention-deficithyperactivity Disorder:

Ahmed Samir Abd El-sattar Aboalatta

There is much controversy about the importance of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in assessing the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). The objective of this study was to assess the use of EEG, in 11 AD/HD children; 10 diagnosed as mental retardation; 10 diagnosed as epilepsy and 10 normal children as a control group. All children included in this study were subjected to a full psychiatric history, a complete clinical examination and a semi structured interview that emphasized order of birth, milestone, scholastic achievement, neurotic traits and family history of MR; AD/HD and epilepsy. Stanford Binet Test, revised 4th ed and EEG were also applied. Epileptiform activity was found in 4 cases (33.3%) of AD/HD children, with no statistically significant difference regarding EEG result, between cases of AD/HD and other groups (MR, normal control children). We concluded that EEG finding is not a specific &consistent finding that AD/HD patient should be treated accordingly. Again the use of antiepileptic medications could only be accepted an empirical basis as a symptomatic or adjuvant one. On the other hand stimulant medications could normalize the EEG pattern of these patients.