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Review
. 2015 Apr;28(2):110-6.
doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000181.

Electrophysiological biomarkers of diagnosis and outcome in neurodevelopmental disorders

Shafali S Jeste  1 , Joel Frohlich, Sandra K Loo
Affiliations
Review

Electrophysiological biomarkers of diagnosis and outcome in neurodevelopmental disorders

Shafali S Jeste et al. Curr Opin Neurol. 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The heterogeneity in clinical presentation and outcome in neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) autism spectrum disorder (ASD) necessitates the identification and validation of biomarkers that can guide diagnosis, predict developmental outcomes, and monitor treatment response. Electrophysiology holds both practical and theoretical advantages as a clinical biomarker in neurodevelopmental disorders, and considerable effort has been invested in the search for electroencephalography (EEG) biomarkers in ADHD and ASD.

Recent findings: Here, we discuss the major themes in the evaluation of biomarkers and then review studies that have applied EEG to better inform diagnosis, focusing on the controversy surrounding the theta:beta ratio in ADHD; prediction of risk, highlighting recent studies of infants at high risk for ASD; and treatment monitoring, presenting new efforts in the redefinition of outcome measures in clinical trials of ASD treatment.

Summary: We conclude that insights gained from EEG studies will contribute significantly to a more mechanistic understanding of these disorders and to the development of biomarkers that can assist with diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention. There is a need, however, to utilize approaches that accommodate, rather than ignore, diagnostic heterogeneity and individual differences.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

S.S.J. and S.K.L. have received grants from the National Institutes of Health. S.S.J. serves as a consultant for Roche Pharmaceuticals. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest.

References

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      This article represents a timely effort to relate biological measures (in this case, functional imaging) with quantitative clinical measures in individuals with ADHD to establish a biologically based nosology for this heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder.

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