Abstract: A patient is diagnosed to determine whether the patient has a limbic system dysrhythmia and capable of being treated by administration of an anticonvulsant medication by determining whether the patient exhibits symptoms in at least four groups out of twelve defined groups of symptoms. In addition, an electroencephalogram is studied for any focal abnormalities in the temporal parietal areas and, if there are none, the patient is administered a local anaesthetic, procaine, and the electroencephalogram is evaluated for omega band activity (30-50 Hz). A patient exhibiting either focal abnormalities in the temporal-parietal areas on the standard electroencephalogram or, after procaine, exhibiting omega band activity of at least about three times the baseline voltage above normal and exhibiting symptoms in at least four groups of the twelve groups of defined symptoms is diagnosed as having Limbic System Dysrhythmia and being capable of treatment by administering an anticonvulsant medication.