American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Practice Exam 2026 - Free ABPN Practice Questions and Study Guide

The characteristic EEG pattern associated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is the presence of periodic sharp-wave complexes. These complexes are typically seen in the context of rapidly progressive dementia and are a hallmark feature of the disease. The periodic sharp-wave complexes appear at regular intervals and can be distinguished from other EEG findings due to their specific morphology and temporal features.

CJD is a prion disease that leads to neurodegenerative changes and is often accompanied by rapid cognitive decline, psychiatric symptoms, and neurological deficits. The EEG findings can help clinicians in the diagnostic process, especially when combined with other clinical indicators.

In contrast, other EEG patterns such as normal alpha rhythm indicate a healthy brain, generalized slow-wave activity may be seen in various encephalopathies, and triphasic waves are often associated with metabolic disturbances or hepatic encephalopathy, rather than CJD. The periodic sharp-wave complexes are uniquely tied to the pathophysiology of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, making their identification crucial in the diagnostic workflow.