Table 8.
Electroencephalography (EEG) and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) alterations in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). * Two patients had white matter lesions compatible with chronic inflammatory changes. One patient had multiple sclerosis-typical MRI lesions. This patient suffered from an isolated psychotic episode. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the past; however, the patient was not given prophylaxis against relapse. ** Two patients were only suspected of having a pineal cyst. Abbreviation: IRDA/IRTA, intermittent generalized rhythmic delta/theta activity; HV, hyperventilation.
| Patients with SSDs | |
|---|---|
| EEG (N = 76)-Visual assessment | |
| Continuous generalized slow activity | 0/76 (0%) |
| Continuous regional slow activity | 1/76 (1%) |
| Intermittent generalized slow activity | 16/76 (21%) |
| Intermittent regional slow activity | 6/76 (8%) |
| Epileptic pattern | 0/76 (0%) |
| EEG overall alterations | 22/76 (29%) |
| EEG (N = 76)—Automatic IRDA/IRTA quantification (mean values) | |
| IRDA/IRTA rate before hyperventilation | 1.18 ± 1.79 (N = 76) |
| IRDA/IRTA rate after hyperventilation | 1.64 ± 2.23 (N = 66, hyperventilation was not performed in all patients) |
| IRDA/IRTA difference (post-hyperventilation–pre-hyperventilation) | 0.46 ± 1.59 (N = 66) |
| IRDA/IRTA rates overall | 1.27 ± 1.70 (N = 76) |
| cMRI (N = 74)—Visual assessment | |
| (Non-specific) white matter lesions | 28/74 (38%) |
| Chronic inflammatory lesions * | 3/74 (4%) |
| Atrophy | 1/74 (1%) |
| Pineal cyst ** | 12/74 (16%) |
| Others | 19/74 (26%) |
| cMRI overall alterations | 45/74 (61%) |