[EEG changes in abuse and addiction of bromide hypnotics [author's transl)]

With bromism we stated a slow EEG-activity. Such alterations of the electro-encephalogram can be caused by urea of bromine, its metabolites and by the inorganic bromide ion. We tried to find out the real effect of the bromide ion which is not bound in the serum. Therefore we only examined the EEG and the bromine serum after the acute influence of the urea of bromine had faded (> 5 days). Patients suffering of disturbances of metabolism or system-diseases, tumors and infections or patients undergoing a medicamentous therapy were excluded from these tests. During the years 1971, 1972 and 1977 we found 26 patients (bromine in serum > 5 mg%) who corresponded to the above mentioned conditions and on whose data the results of our studies are based. 16 patients had very high bromine values (> 24,6 mg%). Most of these patients (10 out of 16) showed paranoid-hallucinatory symptoms. We also stated delirious and depressive attacks. No one suffered of mental dullness. The EEG of 7 patients showed general alterations. With lower bromine values (< 24,6 mg%) we could neither state general alterations of the EEG nor psychotic or delirious symptoms. We didn't observe any paroxysmal disturbance of the EEG. We also didn't notice a acceleration of the EEG, as it was stated with other medical preparations.