Objective: Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) has been increasingly used to evaluate patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between qEEG data and symptom severity in patients with ADHD.
Methods: Fifteen patients with ADHD and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Electroencephalography was assessed in the resting-state, and qEEG data were obtained in the eyes-closed state. The Korean version of the ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS) and continuous performance tests (CPTs) were used to assess all participants.
Results: Theta-band (4-7 Hz) power across the brain was significantly positively correlated with inattention scores on the K-ARS, reaction times and commission errors on the CPTs in ADHD patients. Gamma-band (31-50 Hz) power was significantly positively correlated with the results of the auditory CPTs in ADHD patients. The theta/alpha (8-12 Hz) and theta/beta (13-30 Hz) ratios were significantly negatively correlated with commission and omission errors on auditory CPTs in ADHD patients. No significant correlations between qEEG relative power and K-ARS and CPT scores were observed in HCs.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that qEEG may be a useful adjunctive tool in patients with ADHD.
Keywords: Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity; Continuous performance tests; Inattention; Quantitative electroencephalography; Theta.