RESUMO
Background: Electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities occur in patients with various idiopathic psychiatric disorders. Among the psychiatric patients, children have shown more EEG abnormalities as compared to the adult cases. The present study therefore examined the pattern of EEG abnormalities in children’s attending child guidance clinic of psychiatry department. Method: Electrodes were positioned according to the 10 – 20 system, using a common reference electrode. EEG recordings from 138 hospitalized psychiatric patients were graded blind to diagnosis and treatment for type of EEG abnormalities. Types of clinical diagnosis were evaluated for association with pattern EEG abnormalities. Results: EEG abnormalities occurred in 53.62% (N = 74) subjects, whereas 46.38% (N = 64) showed no abnormality in EEG record. Generalized abnormalities was observed in 37.84% (N = 28) subjects. EEG abnormality in clinically diagnosed epilepsy were commonest 64.62% (N = 42), followed by dissociative (conversion) vs. epilepsy 62.5% (N = 5), pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) 56.67% (N = 17), and mental retardation with epilepsy 28.57% (N = 10). Conclusions: EEG abnormality risk varied widely among children’s with different diagnoses referred/attending Child Guidance Clinic of psychiatry department. Risk was particularly high in clinically diagnosed epilepsy.