Psychiatric Aspects of Epilepsy

Prevention or Modification of Epileptogenesis after Brain Insults: Experimental Approaches and Translational Research

“…TLE, the most frequent and medically refractory type of epilepsy in humans, is characterized by simple or complex partial seizures, originating from the medial or lateral temporal lobe (most often the hippocampus, parahippocampal areas, or amygdala) that may evolve to secondarily generalized seizures (Chang and Lowenstein, 2003). In addition to seizures, many patients with TLE suffer from behavioral alterations, such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis, and impairment of learning and memory, which may be consequences of the morphologic and functional alterations in the temporal lobe associated with TLE (Marcangelo and Ovsiew, 2007). Although the causes of TLE are widely varied, hippocampal sclerosis (Ammon's horn sclerosis) is a common pathologic finding.…”

Psychiatric Comorbidities of Epilepsy: A Review

“…Biological factors concern chemical and structural changes in the Lymbic System circuitry, the site of processing of behavior and emotions [14]. Environmental factors possibly involved with psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy include: loss of independence, social stigma, financial and legal restraints (i.e.…”

“…As psychosocial factors we could name the "learned despair", restraints to normal daily living activities, low self-esteem, educational and Professional difficulties, stigmatization, and social rejection. Among pharmacological factors, adverse effects of central nervous system (CNS) depressor antiepileptic drugs (DAEs), withdrawal of a mood stabilizer drug, polytherapy, starting a new DAE, and dose adjusting have been cited [14,15].…”

Medical Complications of Psychiatric Treatment

“…The SSRIs seem to have the safest profile in this regard, whereas clomipramine, chlorpromazine, bupropion, and clozapine seem to be more problematic [10]. General risk factors include a history of seizures; rapid dose escalation; higher doses of medication (including overdose); and a history of head trauma or cerebrovascular accident.…”