Medication Prediction with Electroencephalography Phenotypes and Biomarkers

This article reviews current medication practices for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, diagnostic category of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. A wide range of medication classes are in use clinically, based on divergent pharmacological mechanisms, from stimulants to anticonvulsants to antidepressants, and including even more esoteric medications such as oxytocin and the various channel blockers. The author proposes that quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) patterns can provide a more reliable basis for medication selection than diagnostic category. The EEG's neurophysiological indicators for these medication classes are summarized and reviewed based not only on 41 years of experience in the field but also on outcomes from psychiatric practices, in an evidence-based approach to medication prediction.