Objectives-In a study of patients with focal epilepsy the hypothesis was explored that different measurements of psychopathology are related to specific distributions of cerebral perfusion. Methods-Forty patients had SPECT performed with 9hnTc-HMPAO. In addition, patients received a psychiatric evaluation with the following psychiatric questionnaires: the Beck depression inventory, the Leyton obsessionality inventory, the Bear-Fedio questionnaire, and the social stress and support interview. Patients were analysed in two groups according to the laterality of the epilepsy. Nine patients were excluded based on poor quality scans (n = 1), unlateralised epilepsy (n = 4), and left or ambidextrous handedness (n = 4). Results-There were no overall differences between the left and right epilepsy groups on measures of psychopathology. Associations were found between scores on some of the rating scales and regional cerebral blood flow. Specifically, for patients with left sided epilepsy, higher scores on the Beck depression inventory were associated with lower contralateral temporal and bilateral frontal perfusion, and higher occipital perfusion. For patients with right sided epilepsy higher scores on the Leyton obsessionality inventory were associated with increased perfusion in ipsilateral temporal, thalamic, and basal ganglia regions and bilateral frontal regions. Conclusion-The results do not support the notion that lateralised epileptogenic lesions are associated with different levels of depression, obsessionality, or personality traits. They support the view that certain psychopathological symptom patterns are related to specific regional dysfunctions depending on the laterality of a hemispheric lesion.

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The diagnosis of non-epileptic seizures (NES) is problematic. Although diagnosis can be achieved by videotelemetry, these facilities are expensive and not widely available. HMPAO SPECT studies show focal hypoperfusion interictally in focal epilepsy. SPECT has not been studied in any detail in NES previously. Two groups (10 patients each) were studied, one with NES and one with complex partial seizures and localisation related epilepsy. SPECT scans were normal in 7 of 10 (70%) NES patients, while showing clear focal hypoperfusion in 8 of 10 patients (80%) with epilepsy. In the NES group, 1 patient showed hypoperfusion indistinguishable from that seen in epilepsy, while 2 patients in the epilepsy group showed only equivocal focal hypoperfusion. The remaining 2 patients in the NES group showed bifrontal and equivocal focal hypoperfusion. A normal HMPAO SPECT study supports the diagnosis of NES in patients with seizures of uncertain aetiology.

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG:Es wird iiber arylhomologe 1,3,5-Triphenylbenzole berichtet. Diese Verbindungen konnen als verzweigte Oligophenylene mit definierter, sternformiger Molekiilgestalt angesprochen werden.Die Synthese erfolgte durch cyclisierende Trimerisierung entsprechender Methyl-arylketone. Dazu wurde ein neues Verfahren ausgearbeitet, das auf der Anwendung von Ketalisierungsagenzien (Orthoformiat) als Kondensationsmittel in Gegenwart von Chlorwasserstoff als Katalysator bernht. Dieses Verfahren, dessen besondere Merkmale methodische Einfachheit und milde Reaktionsbedingungen sind, hat sich nicht nur als sehr leistungsfahig, sondern auch als verallgemeinerungsfahig erwiesen. Es wurden sowohl 1,3,5-Triphenyl-, 1,3,5-Tribiphenylyl-wie auch 1,3,5-Triterphenylyl-benzole dargestellt; dabei konnten meist Ausbeuten bis zu 60 yo d.Th. erreicht werden. Die geringere Cyclisierungsneigung von Methyl-arylketonen mit zur Acetylgruppe o-standigen Substituenten 1aBt sich auf sterische Effekte zuriickfuhren.Zur Gewinnung der als Ausgangsprodukte benotigten Methyl-arylketone bewahrte sich vornehmlich die gemischte ULLMANN-Reaktion, beispielsweise rnit p-Jodacetophenon und p-Jodtoluolen. Es wird der Mechanismus dieser Cyclisierungsreaktion behandelt ; dabei werden Riickschliisse a d Entstehung und Natur von Nebenprodukten gezogen.Im Vergleich zu den Oligophenylenen der p-Reihe zeigen die Triarylbenzole niedrigere Schmelzpunkte und hohere Loslichkeit. Trotz ihrer mit der Lange der Seitenzweige zunehmenden Molekiilsperrigkeit kommt es doch gleichsinnig zu einer starken Loslichkeitsabnahme. Zum Unterschied von den unsubstituierten p-Oligophenylenen nimmt aber die Dichte mit dem Molekulargewicht ab. Wie bei den p-OEgophenylenen wirken auch hier seitenstandige Methylgruppen stark Ioslichkeitssteigernd und schmelzpunktssenkend. SUMMARY:The paper deals with aryl-homologous 1,3,5-triphenyl-benzenes. These compounds can be described as branched uligophenylenes with defined star-like molecular structure.The synthesis was carried out by cyclo-trimerization of corresponding methyl-arylketones. For this purpose a new procedure was developed based on the application of compounds which can be used for ketalization (orthoformate) in the presence of gaseous hydrogen chloride. This procedure which is characterized especially by its methodical simplicity and mild reaction conditions proved not only to be very efficient but also of broad appli- 69