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BACKGROUND: Depression, despite being the most common of mental illness lacks any quantifiable and absolute biomarker. Frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) is proposed as biomarker of depression both in resting and activated state. Yet, the location of extraction of alpha, clinical utility as well as validity of FAA is uncertain. With aim of obtaining clarity on this confusion we conducted this study. METHODOLOGY: Electroencephalographic frontal alpha power was calculated in patients of depression (n = 24) and compared with healthy controls (n = 17) for the assessment of FAA. Both groups were studied for resting phase and activation phase changes in FAA. For activation phase, auditory stimuli in the form of Indian classical music were used. RESULTS: Frontal alpha power was measured across FP1, FP2, F3, F4, F7, and F8. Mean powers were compared in resting (before), activated (during) and postactivated resting stage (after). FAA was statistically significant in F7-F8 pair of electrodes and on F7 electrode when compared between cases and controls. CONCLUSION: Quest for biomarker for depression churned out FAA as frontrunner. Despite of vast amount of research on it, practical utility eludes us. We need to revisit our approach from conventional search of the diagnostic biomarker; as FAA might reflect component of depression but not totally disorder. In our opinion, we are not yet ready for it and have a road ahead to travel.
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This literature survey attempts to clarify different approaches considered to study the impact of the musical stimulus on the human brain using EEG Modality. Glancing at the field through various aspects of such studies specifically an experimental protocol, the EEG machine, number of channels investigated, feature extracted, categories of emotions, the brain area, the brainwaves, statistical tests, machine learning algorithms used for classification and validation of the developed model. This article comments on how these different approaches have particular weaknesses and strengths. Ultimately, this review concludes a suitable method to study the impact of the musical stimulus on brain and implications of such kind of studies.
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BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders. In children, it has long debilitating course and is associated with comorbidities including psychiatric comorbidity. To tackle this burden of comorbidities, we must know the extent of problem. Hence, there is a need for estimation of prevalence of psychiatry disorder in children with epilepsy. AIM: The present study was aimed at measuring the prevalence of various psychiatry disorders among children suffering from epilepsy. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional chart review. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed case record files of all patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy in the age group of 9-17 years. Chart review was done for 5 years, May 1, 2007, to April 30, 2012. A total of 718 patients record were included in the study after satisfying inclusion criteria and excluding nonepilepsy diagnosis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistics was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 18.0). Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the result, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-test used wherever applicable. RESULTS: The prevalence of childhood psychiatric disorder among children with epilepsy found to be 31.2%. We also found that having a partial component (73.21%, n = 164) in seizure has more chances of psychopathology in comparison to generalized seizure (8.1%, n = 18). Among them, those having a partial component with generalization (66.96%, n = 150) had a greater prevalence of psychopathology. Mental retardation was most common psychiatric disorder among psychopathology followed by manic/depressive illness (unipolar) followed by unspecified nonorganic psychosis. CONCLUSION: From our study, we demonstrate the significant mental health needs of children with epilepsy. The evident high prevalence of psychiatry disorder emphasizes the need for psychopathology assessment and treatment as a part of any comprehensive epilepsy clinic.
