EEG examination during delirium tremens.
In 30 male patients several EEG examinations could be carried out during delirium tremens (d.t.) or shortly thereafter. Most of the patients showed a normal EEG or changes which can be explained with regard to sedation through medication. 1 patient showed generalized paroxysmal spike wave bursts. On account of experimental results, we may assume that a transitory cerebral excitibality change occures in d.t. This pathophysiological basis explains the normal EEGs and paroxysmal bursts during d.t. 4 cases showed passages of pronounced diffuse slow activity during d.t. partly accompanied by thythmic bilateral slow waves. These changes point to a complication of d.t. that occurs because of another disease which results in cerebral functional disturbances as in other organic psychoses.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011604:Psychoses, Alcoholic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D013844:Thiazoles