What Is QEEG?
It is a technique that analyzes a recording of the brain’s electrical activity obtained from the scalp to show the distribution of waves at different frequencies across the brain, thereby providing indirect information about how the brain functions. When repeated after treatment, QEEG can demonstrate the positive changes achieved through treatment.
As can be seen from the pre- and post-treatment profiles in the examples, the treatment’s ability to correct irregularities in brain chemistry can be observed through the bioelectrical activity recording.
Since many mental disorders are brain disorders, understanding and monitoring brain function is crucial for effective treatment. In the treatment of depression, monitoring the biological dimension alongside the psychological and social dimensions is particularly valuable and a priority, especially in treatment-resistant cases.
Measuring brain function in adults, adolescents, and children to guide treatment is a long-sought and targeted goal in psychiatry.
Bioelectrical activity—the end product of biological processes in the brain—can be measured using QEEG
.
QEEG is a crucial detail in treatment. A scientific basis is required for a clear diagnosis, which is why QEEG is important.
After a QEEG is performed, a diagnosis is made, and a treatment plan is developed.
Where Is QEEG Used?
The biological dimension of many psychiatric disorders, particularly depression and panic disorder, has been confirmed by scientific research. Laboratory studies have demonstrated a link between these disorders and biochemical imbalances in certain areas of the brain
. However, the extraordinarily complex structure of the human brain and its “inaccessibility” pose a significant obstacle to a detailed understanding of this relationship. Since the human brain cannot be seen directly—and unlike other organs, a part of it cannot be removed and examined—researchers rely on techniques that can provide “indirect” information about how the brain functions.
QEEG is of great importance for the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.
Bioavailability
Psychotropic drugs, which are chemical substances that affect the human brain, “must be administered to the right person, at the right time, and in the right way.” Testing the bioavailability of a drug—especially one that will be used for years—is of great clinical importance.
The Quantitative Pharmaco-EEG system at NPİSTANBUL Hospital can provide preliminary information on whether a medication has antidepressant, antipsychotic, anxiolytic, or cognitive-enhancing effects in the human brain. While this information may not be 100 percent certain, it increases both sensitivity and specificity.
It serves as an auxiliary method for many neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, panic disorder, memory loss, dementia, alcoholism, attention deficit disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD
).
This test can provide meaningful preliminary information regarding the use of medications prescribed with a special prescription (such as Ritalin) in children and adolescents.
