Quantitative EEG analysis in children with tic disorders

Abstract

Objective The current study aimed to clarify quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) characteristics of children with tic disorders (TD), discuss possible mechanisms of tic disorders, and explore the application value of quantitative EEG for the diagnosis and treatment of tic disorders. Methods EEG data of 104 children with tic disorders (TD group) treated at the Departemnt of Pediatric in Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University between January 2019 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. EEG data were screened for specific time periods without obvious artifacts. The relative α, β, θ and δ bands energy, θ/β ratio, and spectral boundary of Fp1, Fp2, F3 and F4 were extracted. Forty⁃nine children matched by sex and age were randomly selected as the control group for statistical analysis. Results In comparison with the control group, children with tic disorders, Fp1, Fp2 showed higher relative θ band energy (Z = 2.354, P = 0.019; t = ⁃ 2.351, P = 0.020) and higher θ/β ratio (Z = 1.990, P = 0.047; Z = 2.206, P = 0.027), F3 showed higher relative δ band energy (t = ⁃ 2.107, P = 0.037), F4 showed higher relative θ band energy (Z = 2.342, P = 0.019), higher relative δ band energy (Z = 2.510, P = 0.012) and higher θ/β ratio (Z = 2.266, P = 0.023); Fp1, Fp2, F3 and F4 showed lower relative α band energy (Z = ⁃ 3.005, P = 0.003; Z = ⁃ 2.829, P = 0.005; Z = ⁃ 2.905, P = 0.004; Z = ⁃ 2.849, P = 0.004); F4 showed lower relative β band energy (Z = ⁃ 2.022, P = 0.043). No significant difference was identified in spectral boundary (P ＞ 0.05, for all). Conclusions The results suggested that the primary lesion of tic disorders mainly involved the frontal cortex, and lead to brain excitation⁃inhibition imbalance. Quantitative EEG can provide objective evidences for the diagnosis and treatment response assessment of patients with tic disorders.

DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2020.11.009