Controlled electroencephalographic investigation of patients with neurotic excoriations

Because of the self-destructive character of neurotic excoriations (n.ex.), it is probable that relatively unmasked aggression plays a greater role than in 'normal' neurotics. In this investigation EEG abnormalities have been found for 51.9% of a group of 54 consecutive patients with n.ex. as against an abnormality frequency of 25% in a control group of neurotics without n.ex. The frequency of abnormalities in the n.ex. group is of the same level as for aggressive psychopaths, a finding which supports the above-mentioned hypothesis. In the majority of cases these abnormalities took the form of unspecific changes mainly showing bilateral theta activity. The basis of the registered left-sided preponderance of EEG abnormalities is discussed.