Quantitative electroencephalography study of ADHD children

Objective To investigate the characteristics of quantitative electroencephalography(QEEG)in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods Sixty-four boys with ADHD combined type(ADHDcom),6 boys with ADHD predominantly inattentive type(ADHDin)and 30 age-matched controls were included.EEG was recorded during eyes-closed resting condition and was Fourier transformed to provide estimates for total power,absolute and relative power in delta,theta,alpha and beta frequency bands.Results Compared with controls,ADHD groups were found to have more delta activity,less beta activity,more total power and higher theta/beta in frontal regions.Compared with ADHDin,ADHDcom had more theta and delta activity,less beta activity,more total power,higher theta/alpha and higher theta/beta.Patients with severe degree of attention deficiency showed less alpha activity,more delta activity and higher theta/alpha than that of patients with mild and moderate degree of attention deficiency.Conclusions The EEG of ADHD boys was significantly different from controls.QEEG was helpful to diagnose ADHD,differentiate subtypes and evaluate.QEEG had good prospects in clinical and research areas of ADHD.