Investigating the Relationship between Theta/Beta Ratio and Intensity of Disease in Children with ADHD

Abstract

Purpose: Electroencephalography based biomarkers including the measurement of the brain’s theta/beta waves in the vertex(Cz) region can be useful to achieve diagnostic and therapeutic objectives in Attention/Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). EEG biomarkers have been under extensive use in ADHD researchs, even though they have not been clinically confirmed so far. This study attempted to examine the relationship between theta/beta ratio and the disease intensity in ADHD children as well as the sensitivity and theta/beta ratio characteristic to detect ADHD and healthy children. The accuracy of this ratio would help differentiate diseased children from the healthy ones in terms of ADHD.
Materials and Methods: This study is a case-control test, in which the statistical population consisted of 59 healthy children and 61 children with ADHD who had been chosen through simple random sampling. All patients were examined in terms of disease intensity using parental Conner’s questionnaire. The theta/beta ratio in Cz and Fz points was tested and recorded individually each once during waking hours with open eyes with no mental task, and another time during a specific mental task by neurofeedback.
Results: Theta/beta without test was larger in the Fz region in the cases than in the controls (p<0.001). There was a medium relationship between theta/beta (p<0.001) in Fz region and Conner’s score. Theta/beta without test in Fz(sensitivity=62%; specificity=71%) and in Cz (sensitivity=51%; specificity=73%) would differentiate two groups only at a medium level.
Conclusion: It seems that further research should be conducted using more precise tools like QEEG with a larger sample volume and more limited age group.