[Quantitative EEG, basic disorders and smoking in etiopathogenetically different groups of paranoid-hallucinatory psychoses--an exploratory study]. / Quantitatives EEG, Basisstörungen und Rauchen bei ätiopathogenetisch differenten Gruppen paranoid-halluzinatorischer Psychosen--eine explorative Studie.

We performed an exploratory study of quantitative EEG in aetiopathogenetically different paranoid-hallucinatory psychoses divided into the following groups: a) patients with familial psychoses (n = 12), b) patients with neuropsychological deficits (n = 16), c) patients with alcohol and drug abuse (n = 22) and d) patients with so-called sporadic psychoses (n = 12). We found a significant reduction of relative alpha power in the group with neuropsychological deficits. In the group with familial psychosis there was a significant reduction of absolute delta power and a significant increase of relative beta power and dominant beta frequency, especially for the frontal leads. Patients with drug abuse showed a reduction of absolute beta power and an increase of absolute and relative theta power. The group with sporadic psychosis showed a significant slowing of the dominant beta frequency and a significant increase of the absolute power of fast alpha rhythms. The group with sporadic psychoses showed lowered scores for the paranoid-hallucinatory basic symptom factor. The group with neuropsychological deficits showed the most visceral-somatoform basic symptoms, the highest nicotine consumption, increased dyskinesias and more perinatal complications. This group also showed the highest level of neuroleptic and antiparkinson medication. All in all, the group with neuropsychological deficits showed a complex interaction of somatic-exogenic and medical-iatrogenic factors. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between paranoid-hallucinatory basic symptoms and nicotine abuse and high frequency beta waves.

Postalcoholic diseases: diagnostic relevance of computerized EEG.

In 48 patients with sequels of chronic alcoholism automatically analysed EEGs were taken twice: (1) some 2 days after cessation of acute delirious or predelirious states; (2) some 18 days later, after clinical recovery. EEG results were supplemented by neuropsychological, biochemical and clinical data. Complementary analyses in the time (Hjorth's descriptors) and frequency (spectral analysis) domains at the first time operationally identified EEG correlates of a hallucinatory syndrome vs. personality deterioration ("depravation'), together with specific effects of drinking habits and withdrawal. The second examination disclosed prognostically different types of EEG reactions to chronic alcoholism.

AMP-rated psychopathology in chronic alcoholics.

In a group of 39 alcoholics within a withdrawal process, the psychical situation was rated using AMP scales (Angst et al. 1969). Cluster analysis of the items rendered the following five-cluster solution: (1) "aggressive-depressive" patients, (2) "less impaired" persons, (3) "slowed persons with diminished contact", (4) "emotionally inadequate" persons, (5) "appealing depressive" persons. These results are discussed with respect to other data from clinical history and diagnostic findings.

Determinants of chlormethiazole-induced EEG effects in chronic alcoholics.

At beginning and end of hospital treatment with chlormethiazole (Distraneurin), the EEGs of 41 male alcoholics were analyzed, employing spectral analysis and Hjorth's parameters. Hierarchical regression analysis of selected data showed significant influence of hallucinations and/or personality deterioration on chlormethiazole-induced EEG effects, especially at the beginning of treatment.

[The effect of tinofedrine on the EEG]. / Zur Zeitgestalt des Elektroenzephalogramms unter Tinofedrin.

The effect of 4 mg tinofedrine i.v. on the EEG of 10 healthy volunteers was tested by serial spectral analysis. In a controlled study, production of alpha-waves rose significantly, while delta-activity decreased. This is thought to be indicative of activation of the central nervous system by tinofedrine.

EEG and haemodialysis. A structural survey of EEG spectral analysis, Hjorth's EEG descriptors, blood variables and psychological data.

Computerized EEG was performed in 20 patients with renal failure before and after haemodialysis (HD), applying spectral analysis and Hjorth's EEG descriptors in EEG quantification, correlation and factor analysis as statistical procedures to analyse the connections of EEG, blood variables and psychological performance. The main results were: (1) Moderate uraemic encephalopathy -- according to Kiley's (1971) standards -- was present in most of our patients, before and after HD. (2) Before HD, EEG slowing was most strongly connected with the creatinine level and EEG acceleration with hyperkalaemia, which in most cases accompanied a high urea level. (3) Significant EEG changes after HD were: decrease of percentage delta activity, increase of Hjorth's 'mobility', decrease of Hjorth's 'complexity'. (4) The theta/alpha ratio (Matousek 1968) was significantly correlated with the patient's general clinical state after HD. (5) Visual discrimination, memory and maximal tapping speed improved significantly after HD. Only Hjorth's EEG parameters were correlated with test performance in that patients with low voltage and fast EEGs did worse in visual discrimination.