How to Diagnose Bipolar Disorder with an EEG

An electroencephalogram or EEG, is a test conducted by neurologists to study electrical signals in your brain. Doctors use this method of studying brain waves to diagnose patients who are suspected of having bipolar disorder, a mental condition where a patient has a chemical imbalance in their brain. These patients are conflicted between two poles, moderate to severe depression, in which they can become suicide and feel hopeless, and mania, in which they lack moral or sound judgment and believe they are invincible.

Instructions

• 1

  Administer anesthesia via IV drip until the patient is unconscious. Connect the patient to a heart monitor by placing electrodes to the chest and sides. Insert the ventilation tube and start ventilation.

• 2

  Attach disposable gel electrodes to the patient's scalp on the right and left pre-frontal regions. These should be connected to the EEG machine. Underneath each electrode apply more conductive gel. Strap patient to the bed across their chest and legs with restraints.

• 3

  Place electroconvulsive therapy electrodes unilaterally to the patient's temples and induce electric shock to the patient's brain at a currency of 800 mA for a period of 6 seconds. This will cause the induced seizure needed for EEG readings.

• 4

  Analyze EEG readings while the patient is convulsing. Patients with bipolar disorder show a high occurrence of high frequency activity in the gamma brainwave range on the EEG reading. Patients will reach a maximum peak, followed by two minor peaks ranging from 47 Hz to 51 Hz. These frequencies are located in the postictal-suppression phase of the patient's seizure EEG readings, according to a study conducted by Björn Wahlund, Paolo Piazza, Dietrich von Rosen, Benny Liberg, and Hans Liljenström.