Spectral electroencephalogram and clinical follow-up during alprazolam and imipramine treatment in panic disorder

Abstract

The response to alprazolam and imipramine in 22 patients with panic disorder was studied by means of clinical follow-up, routine electroencephalogram (EEG), and spectral analysis of EEG background activity (spectral EEG). Both psychotropic drug treatments resulted in good clinical response during the 5-month follow-up period. The routine EEG was abnormal in 9 patients (41%), but no epileptiform EEG abnormalities were found. The spectral EEGs of the panic patients did not differ from those of the controls. Comparison of alprazolam and imipramine treatments showed some significant differences; alprazolam increased the relative beta power and decreased the delta power, thus resulting in significant changes of the corresponding ratios of fast- to slow-wave activity. Alprazolam also markedly increased the occipital mean frequency during the treatment period. On the other hand, the occipital mean frequency was only slightly decreased in the imipramine group, even though the occipital theta and delta bands significantly increased in patients receiving imipramine.