THE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF MANIFEST AND LATENT `DELIRIUM' WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THAT COMPLICATING HEPATIC CIRRHOSIS

Abstract

An electronic analysis method is described for assessing the background rhythmic activity of the eeg. The term "delirium" is used to denote episodes of confusion or alternation of consciousness and the tendency for such occurrences is termed "encephalopathy". For purposes of demonstrating the clinical usefulness of this method eeg of patients with hepatic cirrhosis illustrating hepatic encephalopathy are described in detail. Patients showing signs of mild encephalopathy may show no clinical or eeg abnormalities. The significance of change in this background activity and the production of changes by therapeutic, non-specific and specific tests is described.