From the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 12 Number 4 Winter 2007

Stephen C. Suffin, M.D.
W. Hamlin Emory, M.D.
Nicholas Gutierrez, M.D.
Gurdev S. Arora, M.D.
Mark J. Schiller, M.D.
Arthur Kling, M.D.


Abstract

This prospective, randomized. blinded, controlled study compared outcomes in chronic, refractory major depressive disorder (MOD) with and without physicians' prescribing medications guided by electroencephalography-based medication outcome prediction. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in pretreatment vs. treatment Hamilton Depression Scale and Beck Depression Inventory scores (P<009) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores (P = .02). Onlly one of six patients demonstrated clinical improvement with medication choice unguided by EEG data, compared to six of seven patients treated with EEG guidance. Pretreatment EEG data predicted medication response in this pilot study.