UCLA researchers are using “quantitative EEG” (QEEG) — an algorithm that mathematically analyzes data from EEG electrodes to transform the results into a map of brain activity — to detect markers of antidepressant-induced suicidal thoughts.

Patients on antidepressants who indicated an increase in suicidal thoughts showed a drastic decrease in activity in the midline- and right-frontal (MRF) portion of the brain just 48 hours after starting their meds–six times the decrease shown in subjects with no change in suicidal thoughts.