Resting electroencephalogram in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: developmental course and diagnostic value

This study investigated electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and its developmental course in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) throughout the lifespan, as well as the accuracy of EEG parameters in distinguishing ADHD patients from typically developing individuals. Three minutes eyes closed resting EEG was compared between 62 individuals with ADHD (36 children, 26 adults) and 55 typically developing individuals (30 children, 25 adults). EEG activity and maturation did not differ between individuals with ADHD and typically developing individuals. However, despite comparable developmental course between clinical groups, persistent elevated theta/beta ratio and reduced relative beta power were observed in the ADHD inattentive subtype compared to the ADHD combined subtype and controls across the lifespan. Therefore, a maturational deviation rather than a maturational delay may underlie a subgroup of ADHD. EEG based classification failed for ADHD but proved successful for age. These findings emphasize heterogeneity in ADHD throughout the lifespan and question clinical utility of conventional EEG approaches for diagnostic purposes in ADHD.