Author/Editor		Binnie, CD
Title		Uses and abuses of the EEG: epilepsy as a test case
Type		članek
Source		In: Stalberg EV, de Weerd AW, Zidar J, editors. ECCN 98. 9th European congress of clinical neurophysiology; 1998 Jun 4-7; Ljubljana. Bologna: Monduzzi Editore,
Publication year		1998
Volume		str. 253-8
Language		eng
Abstract		The sensitivity of a single waking EEG for detecting epilepsy in adults is only 50%, but combined wake and sleep records show discharges in 80%. Specificity is also poor unless discharges of diagnosticsignificance are distinguished from sharp normal wareforms. When these are excluded the prevalence of epileptiform activity in normal adult males is some 3/1000. Positive findings are more common in neurological or psychiatric disorders without known epilepsy, and must be interpreted in the overall clinical context. The EEG contributes importantly to classification but only when interpreted in clinical context. EEG changes during seizures may be subtle or absent; the significance of a negative ictal EEG depends on clinical events. The amount of interictal epileptirom activity rarely provides a useful guide to seizure frequency, therapeutic response or prognosis and should not be used for this purpose.
Descriptors		EPILEPSY ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY