Essay on Clinical Uses of Electroencephalogram

What remains unknown is why electroconvulsive therapy is effective. A plethora of studies show the neurochemical correlates of this treatment and its relation to the anti-depressant effect, yet none are conclusive. Richard Abrams has studied ECT for years and discusses a wide variety of reasons for its effectiveness in his revised edition of Electroconvulsive Therapy. For a person who has studied this treatment for 50 years, he concludes

Seizure are uncontrolled or sudden abnormal electrical activity in the brain which causes abnormal motor and sensory activity and where the patient becomes unconsciousness. It is caused by the depolarization of the neurons. Any changes that takes place in our body that may be internal or external it can easily stimulate the irritable neurons. Seizure last for a second or a minute, in which the neurons stops unexpectedly. The pattern of electrical activity or brain waves during a seizure can be seen in EEG, by knowing what type of seizure. There are different

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which individuals have recurrent seizures. Seizures can occur in children and adults of any age. There are around 50 million people in the world who has the disorder. Individuals in developing countries are at a higher risk for developing the disorder. Seizures occur due to hyper-excitability and hyper-synchronization of neurons. Action potential transmits messages and it leads to depolarization. When neurons are uncontrollably depolarizes because of hyper-excitability due to too little inhibition, it cause a seizure. Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. As spontaneously they can develop is also as fast and spontaneous they can end.

The EEG results are used to determine where sensors will be attached, to earlobes, or even hair to transmit thoughts through a transducer. The patient then must complete "tasks" by thought utilizing the appropriate brainwaves depending on the individual goal or disorder of that subject.

The brain is one of the most complex organ in our bodies. To learn about the brain scientists use electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation is the use of electrical probes to determine functions of the brain. Clinical observation of patients have also helped scientists learn more about the brain. Case studies of different patients such as Phineas Gage have helped to learn about the different functions of the brain and how they work together to perform complex activities. (Barron’s AP Psychology 6th Edition)

It can be used to help us diagnose problems having to do with head trauma and behavioral abnormality that may be rooted in their brain. In the case of your pet having seizures, an EEG can determine if electrical discharges related to them are focal or diffuse, which can help us diagnose the specific issue.

Electroconvulsive therapy, also known as ECT, is a medical procedure that is used in the treatment of mental illness. In ECT, a small electrical impulse is sent through the brain, resulting in an ephemeral seizure. Though the process is generally effective, modern science is unaware of the explanation behind ECT's success. Its history is filled with a large amount of stigma and the use of ECT as a therapy is still debated today. ECT has evolved to a point where its beneficial effects can be maximized and its adverse effects can be minimized through proper administration.

On May 9th, 2014, I had an unexpected seizure in the middle of the night. At the time my parents were asleep, and they were awoken in a state of shock. Seizures are really scary because they are unexpected. As a matter of fact, the people who go through them are totally unaware of their surroundings and are left vulnerable to the dangers around them. Because of this drastic event, I had to go through many time-consuming tests, one of which was the EEG, which took one whole day and night at the hospital. An EEG is a very complex, expensive and time-consuming system, also it is uncomfortable for patients, especially for young children.

Prior to the actual treatment, the patient is given general anesthesia and a muscle relaxant. Electrodes are then attached to the patient's scalp and an electric current is applied which causes a brief convulsion. Minutes later, the patient awakens confused and without memory of events surrounding the treatment. This treatment is usually repeated three times a week for two to four weeks. The number of treatments varies from six to twelve. It is often recommended that the patient maintain a limited intake of medication, after the ECT treatments, to reduce the chance of relapse.

To diagnose your condition, your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history. After that the doctor will order several tests to diagnose epilepsy such as, neurological examination, blood test, electroencephalogram(EEG), computerized tomography(CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), positron emission tomography(PET), and other tests may be done.

People uneducated about Epilepsy may have confused thoughts on what it really is. People have these "notions," which are partly or entirely not true. So, throughout this research paper, these notions will be proven untrue, mostly by factual information given by

The second argument for the use of ECT is that successful treatments induce remission in episodes of illness (Gabbard, 2001). The evidence supporting this conclusion is compelling and includes a sizable number of well-controlled “sham-ECT” studies. In these studies, patients were randomized to receive real ECT or sham-ECT (which involves anaesthesia but no electrical stimulation), thus providing for precise double-blind tests of efficacy (Gabbard, 2001). One misconception is that it provides a “cure”. This is not the case - it does not produce a “cure” any

Electroencephalography (EEG) has a broad use in both medical practices and medical research for diagnosing and identifying epileptic seizures, syncope (fainting), cognitive psychologies, and psychophysiological research (Niedermever, 2004). Commonly used in identifying epilepsy, the EEG helps the doctors to distinguish types of seizures, the reasons to trigger the seizures and also the treatment needed. Types of EEG are different according to test aims, facilities, medical and patients’ situations, and are generally separated into 4 types: Routine EEG, Sleep EEG, Ambulatory EEG and Video EEG. All of the types would record electrical activities of the brain, investigate their potential fluctuations and brain waves, and perform analysis to convert the data into useful information in identifying the seizures. Usually, the EEG test will last for 20 to 40 minutes, and will be conducted by attaching scalp with the electrodes which are connected to an EEG recording machine (NHS, 2017).

The individual may appear to be in a trance and moves randomly with no control over body movements. The individual's activity does not cease during the seizure, but behavior is random and totally unrelated to the individual's surroundings. This form of seizure may be preceded by an aura (a warning sensation characterized by feelings of fear, abdominal discomfort, dizziness, or strange odors and sensations).

The ECT was being administered in theatre in the general hospital. In advance of the treatment the clients vital signs were checked and it was confirmed that consent was given. The client was then transferred to theatre. Present in the room was the anaesthesiology team, ECT nurse, surgical nurse, psychiatric consultant, registrar, psychiatric nurse and student nurse. Initially the client was hooked up to a machine to record her vital signs, anaesthetic and muscle relaxants were administered and the client was ventilated with 100% oxygen. Under anaesthetic the client has reduced capacity to breathe hence oxygen is administered, pure oxygen also reduces the deleterious effects on memory. Anaesthesia and muscle relaxants reduce the seizure threshold and the risk of injuries from motor activity during the seizure (Fink 2009). The client remained in the supine position, conductive jelly was applied bilaterally to the temples and the psychiatrist administered the electrical stimulus. The choice between unilateral and bilateral electrode placement remains