ANXIETY AND EEG ALPHA ACTIVITY IN NEUROTIC PATIENTS: Baseline Correlations and Changes During a Double‐Blind Trial with Temazepam

Reviews the literature on EEG alpha activity in different psychological states (i.e., morbid anxiety, attention, and mental relaxation). In the present study, 20 male neurotic inpatients suffering from chronic moderate anxiety were assessed with respect to anxiety level and EEG alpha activity (frequency and per cent time) and fast activity. No significant EEG asymmetry was found. The average alpha per cent time was very low, most of the patients being low-alpha Ss. Anxiety and alpha index were significantly correlated. Ss were then treated with either 80 mg/day of temazepam or placebo for 2 wks (double blind). Significant effects were detected in anxiety state, the drug group showing more improvement, but not in EEG profile. The measures were expressed as change scores from the pretreatment values, and correlations between them were computed. The only correlation of significance was negative, between anxiety level and alpha index found after 1 wk in the drug group. (66 ref) (PsycLIT Database Copyright 1976 American Psychological Assn, all rights reserved)