Patterns of EEG dysfunction in general hospital psychiatry

Patterns of EEG dysfunction in clinical psychiatry are badly documented. Population variables in patients admitted to the psychiatric ward of a general hospital (n = 1,285) compared to a sample referred for EEG recording (n = 1,200) are reported. Prevalence of EEG dysfunction in referrals is high (42.5%) and the reported selection criteria appear clinically valid. The type of EEG dysfunction largely depends on age and recognizable patterns in general hospital psychiatry include drug effects, epilepsy in mental retardation and organic brain syndromes in the elderly. Similar data in other types of mental institutions are highly mandatory.