Retrospective analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) examinations of 362 children with mental disorders

Title : Retrospective analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) examinations of 362 children with mental disorders

Abstract:

Objective: To explore the characteristics of the mental disorders in children, in order to provide a basis for better diagnosis and treatment.  

Method: A retrospective study was conducted. Among the inpatients at Xi'an Mental Health Center, children under 16 years old with mental disorders were selected, presenting symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia-like, depressive, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, including various mental symptoms. There was no restriction on gender. A total of 362 cases were included. All these patients underwent both routine electroencephalogram (EEG) examination and 24-hour EEG examination. The number of cases with abnormal results in the routine EEG examination, the number of cases with abnormal results in the 24-hour EEG examination, and whether the abnormal EEG results were consistent with the EEG changes of epilepsy patients were separately counted. The treatment plans and treatment effects of patients with abnormal EEG examination results were also analyzed, and the results were discussed. 

Result: Among the 362 patients with mental disorders under the age of 16, 84 patients (23.20%) had abnormal results in the routine electroencephalogram (EEG) examination, and the abnormal EEG waves were consistent with the changes of epileptic waves; 328 patients (90.61%) had abnormal results in the 24-hour EEG examination, and the abnormal EEG waves were also consistent with the changes of epileptic waves; The detection rate of 24-hour EEG for epilepsy patients was significantly higher than that of the routine EEG (x2 = 330.68, P < 0.05). The treatment with antiepileptic drugs for patients with abnormal examination results was effective, suggesting that this disease is related to brain organic damage. 

Conclusion: For children with mental disorders, the first step is to rule out the mental and emotional problems caused by epileptic mental disorders. Most patients with children's mental disorders have abnormal electroencephalogram results. The abnormal brain waves conform to the changes of epileptic waves, possibly indicating mental and emotional disorders caused by psychomotor epilepsy. In the clinical diagnosis of psychomotor epilepsy patients, 24-hour electroencephalogram has a significantly higher detection rate for epilepsy patients compared to ordinary electroencephalogram, and has a higher application value.

Key words: Child and adolescent mental disorders, 24-hour electroencephalogram, psychomotor epilepsy.

Biography:

Liangmei Chen, Chief Physician of the Mental Health Center of Xi'an City (Shaanxi Province). She is an expert in the evaluation of health professionals in Shaanxi Province, an expert in scientific research project evaluation in Shaanxi Province, a standing committee member of the Chinese Population Culture Promotion Association's Health Science Popularization Committee, and a member of the Mental Health Professional Committee of the Shaanxi International Medical Exchange Promotion Association. She is a member of the editorial board of the journal "Clinical Neuroscience Research" and a reviewer for "Social Science Research Frontiers". She has translated the classic American psychopathology textbook "Abnormal Psychology" by the DSM-5; and has participated in the compilation of multiple "Mental Health Popularization" series of books.