Surgery-induced verbal memory deficits following LTL surgery continue 13 years after surgery. Late, possibly age-related, declines in multiple memory scores are seen in patients with temporal lobe surgery and nonsurgical patients with epilepsy. Patients with LTL surgery may be at risk for a more rapid decline in selective verbal memory skills. Evaluations of treatments for intractable epilepsy that compromise memory functions should consider the further quality of life impact of late age-related memory declines.

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We recently demonstrated statistically significant correlations between presurgical memory impairment and hippocampal volumetric cell densities (in CA3 and the hilar area only) for patients with idiopathic left temporal lobe epilepsy who exhibited marked hippocampal neuron loss. In the present research we determine whether the same relationship exists for patients with structural lesions, in whom hippocampal neuron loss was minimal. Rank-order correlations of verbal memory test results (ie, Long Term Retrieval score of the verbal Selective Reminding Test, Percent Retention index of the Logical Memory subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale) and hippocampal volumetric cell densities (subfields CA1, CA2, CA3, the hilar area, and the granule layer of area dentata) were computed for 22 patients with structural lesions and medically refractory epilepsy of temporal lobe onset (11 left, 11 right). There were statistically significant correlations between Long Term Retrieval and the volumetric cell density of CA1 (r = 0.62, p < 0.05) and between percent retention and the volumetric cell density of CA2 (r = 0.60, p < 0.05) for patients with left hemisphere lesions. No other correlations were found for patients with left or right temporal lobe lesions.

Neurocognition, not psychopathology, is a significant predictor of illness knowledge after psychoeducation in schizophrenia. This finding should guide efforts to tailor psychoeducational interventions more closely to the patient's needs and resources.