INTRODUCTION
The electroencephalography (EEG), since its inception in the 1930s, has become one of the
most used investigative tools in psychiatry. Its uses include exclusion of seizure disorders
and encephalopathic conditions. In psychiatry distinguishing between a primary psychiatric
disorder and psychiatric manifestations of an underlying medical condition is of vital
importance. This determines which course of management the psychiatrist should follow,
and most importantly, determines the prognosis.
However, EEG studies done in psychiatry have yielded unfavourable results. The yield of
positive (abnormal) EEG results is very low. Despite this, it is still widely requested by most
psychiatrists.
There is a dearth of literature assessing the usefulness of EEG in psychiatry in our South
African setting. The current study looked at which users are referred for EEG and the
outcomes thereof.
METHODS
The study was conducted at Sterkfontein psychiatric hospital. A retrospective review of
clinical records, and EEG reports, of inpatients 18yrs and older that underwent EEG
between January 2008 to June 2009 was done. A data sheet was used as a recording tool.
Data was analysed using the Statistica 9.0 system. RESULTS
The total sample was 85. Seventy four (87%) records were normal, 7(8,2%) were abnormal,
2(2,4%) were inconclusive and two EEG reports were unavailable. Only one user’s diagnosis
changed based on abnormal EEG results. There was no statistically significant correlation
between abnormal EEG results and demographic variables, symptoms, admission diagnosis
and medications.
CONCLUSION
The positive yield of EEG results remains very low in psychiatry. EEG results do not appear
to influence the treating psychiatrist’s decision regarding management.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/12549 |
| Date | 19 March 2013 |
| Creators | Molokomme, Molokashe Meriam |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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