The neurometric-quantitative electroencephalogram as a predictor for psychopharmacological treatment: an investigation of clinical utility.

A retrospective validation study of the Neurometric method of the Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) in predicting response to psychotropic medication was conducted. The clinical outcomes of 2 groups of patients were compared: those patients prescribed medication regimens that were concordant with the QEEG predictors vs. those whose medication regimens were discordant with the QEEG predictors. Participants included 70 adolescent inpatients who were administered the QEEG upon admission. The results indicated no significant difference in clinical outcome between the 2 groups. The failure of this study to find significant differences in patient outcomes brings into question this particular use of the QEEG. The existing literature and future directions for research and clinical use of this method are discussed.