Brain stem audiometry may supply markers for diagnostic and therapeutic control in psychiatry

The purpose of the present study is to try an alternative way of analyzing the ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response). The stimuli were complex sounds (c-ABR) as used in earlier studies. It was further aimed at corroborating earlier findings that this method can discriminate several neuropsychiatric states. Forty healthy control subjects, 26 subjects with the diagnosis schizophrenia (Sz) and 33 with ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) were recruited for the study. The ABRs were recorded. The analysis was based on calculation of areas of significantly group different time spans in the waves. Both latency and amplitude were thereby influential. The spans of differences were quantified for each subject in relation to the total area of the curve which made comparisons balanced. The results showed highly significant differences between the study groups. The results are important for future work on identifying markers for neuropsychiatric clinical use. To reach that goal calls for more extensive studies than this preliminary one.