Abnormal EEG patterns are well known electrophysiological effects of treatment with
antipsychotic drugs. To estimate the risk of EEG alterations including epileptiform
activity under recently developed antipsychotics, we have analysed EEG recordings
of all inpatients with schizophrenia medicated with atypical antipsychotics olanzapine
or amisulpride in monotherapy, in comparison to a control group under haloperidol
within a two-year period.
EEG effects of olanzapine (n = 45) and amisulpride (n = 25) were retrospectively investigated
and compared with the effects of haloperidol (n = 20) using digital EEG recordings,
visually assessed by two independent investigators.
Patients under olanzapine and amisulpride showed significantly higher rates of EEG
abnormalities (46.7 and 44 %) as compared to haloperidol (10 %) (p < 0.01, and p
< 0.05, respectively) and abnormal EEGs were associated with higher doses of medication.
Epileptiform discharges were seen under olanzapine (15 %), and amisulpride (4 %),
but not under haloperidol (statistical trend, p = 0.07).
EEG abnormalities are frequent, and dose-dependent findings under treatment with olanzapine
and amisulpride, and the occurrence of epileptiform activity has to be taken into
account.
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Oliver Pogarell, M.D.
Department of Psychiatry
Section of Clinical Neurophysiology
Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich
Nussbaumstr. 7
80336 Munich
Germany
Phone: +49 89 5160 3409
Fax: +49 89 5160 5542
Email: oliver.pogarell@med.uni-muenchen.de
