Abstract

NAVARRO LOPEZ, Jorge; MORAL BERGOS, Raquel del  and  MARIJUAN, Pedro C.. Significant new quantitative EGG patterns in fibromyalgia. Eur. J. Psychiat. [online]. 2015, vol.29, n.4, pp.277-292. ISSN 0213-6163.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0213-61632015000400005.

Background and Objectives: We analyzed the EEG recordings of a sample of fibromyalgia patients, with the goal of looking for new, more objective indicators on the diagnosis and severity assessment of this pathology, and looking also to establish the relationship of these new indicators with different psychological and neuropsychiatric tests. Methods: We compared the EEG recordings of a group of 13 fibromyalgia patients with a normalized database built into the software of the equipment used (Neuronic), and also with a control group of 13 individuals; both groups were selected under the same criteria of inclusion-exclusion. Patients and controls underwent quantitative EEG (eyes closed), according to international 10-20 EEG system and were specifically evaluated throughout various neuropsychiatric and psychological questionnaires. Results: We obtained the absolute powers of QEEG (quantitative) for the different electrode sites and frequency bands, we determined the corresponding values of the deviation from normal (Z-scores), and estimated various indicators and ratios, as well as correlations with the results of psychological tests. Interestingly, the ratios of theta and beta frequencies in relation with alpha appear as one of the most relevant indicators of the severity of the pathology; significant differences were also found in the peak frequency (maximum power per Hz) of the alpha band, and in the frequency peak of the total spectrum. Conclusions: The consistency of the abnormal EEG patterns of fibromyalgia patients revealed the presence of systemic dysfunction at the central nervous system level, beyond possible peripheral anomalies and specific tissue pathologies. Among the indicators and benchmarks achieved, the most important changes concern the frequencies theta, alpha and beta, and still more significant were the values of their ratios in the comparison between patients and controls. The relative values of peak frequencies are also of interest. The promising results achieved suggest that it is necessary to continue the investigation to validate these new diagnostic indicators.

Keywords : Electroencephalogram; Quantitative EEG; Fibromyalgia; Frequency band Ratios; Psy­cho­lo­gical Test; Z-scores.

        · text in English     · English ( pdf )