Echoencephalographs of 100 consecutive acute psychiatric admissions

Echoencephalography (ECHO) on 100 consecutive acute short-term psychiatric admissions showed a high (12 per cent) incidence of abnormalities. Incidence of midline ECHO abnormalities was 2 per cent, comparable to similar studies. Ventricular enlargement accounted for the majority of ECHO abnormalities. This study also confirmed a previous report of a relationship between third ventricular size and response to treatment. Use of the ECHO as a screening test for these patients was safe and rapid. Correlative studies tended to confirm ECHO findings.