Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Misdiagnosed as Schizophrenia: A Case Report

Abstract

Temporal lobe epilepsy is a neurological disorder of an unprovoked type of focal (partial) epilepsy that begins in the temporal lobe of the brain. Patients with this condition are often misdiagnosed due to similarities in presentation to other conditions. In this case report, we presented a 34-year-old male, who had symptoms of hallucination, anxiety, and depression which can be seen in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Due overlap in symptoms, he was misdiagnosed to have schizophrenia. Following subsequent review of his medical history and findings seen in his laboratory work and imaging studies, it was determined that his symptoms were caused by seizures originating from an atrophic lesion in his hippocampus found on magnetic resonance imaging of his temporal lobe.