The major objective of this study was to examine the persistence of ab
normal quantitative EEG (qEEG) measures over a six month time interval
in subjects in strictly supervised drug free residential treatment fo
r crack cocaine dependence. Seventeen subjects were assessed with qEEG
at five to 10 days, one month and six months following their last use
of cocaine. No significant changes were noted over time in abnormal q
EEG measures, which included deficits of absolute and relative power i
n the delta band and increased relative alpha power. The persistence o
f qEEG abnormality in crack cocaine withdrawal suggests a persistent n
eurobiologic alteration resulting from chronic cocaine exposure. The s
pecificity of the qEEG findings is discussed, and an interpretation is
suggested with reference to the hypothesis of neural sensitization in
cocaine dependence. (C) 1998 American College of Neuropsychopharmacol
ogy. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.