There is mounting evidence to suggest that EEG characteristics can serve as candidate endophenotypes for disorders characterized by disinhibitory psychopathology, such as alcohol abuse and dependence as well as other forms of substance abuse, antisocial behavior, and disruptive disorders (e.g., conduct disorder and ADHD). The most common finding among alcohol-dependent individuals is increased beta power. This has most often been found in studies of individuals in treatment or in active withdrawal (Costa & Bauer, 1997; Herning et al., 1997; Saletu-Zyhlarz et al., 2004). Greater beta power in such individuals has been found to predict whether they continue in treatment or relapse following it (Bauer, 2001; Saletu-Zyhlarz et al., 2004; Winterer et al., 1998). At least one study has reported elevated beta power in non-treatment seeking individuals (Rangaswamy et al., 2002). Other studies conducted with non-treatment samples have reported increases in lower-frequency activity in substance abusers (e.g., theta and delta activity). Increased theta activity in particular has been observed in individuals with various forms of disinhibitory psychopathology: alcohol dependence (Rangaswamy et al., 2003), heavy marijuana use (Struve et al., 1999), antisocial
