Psychological profiles in patients with medically refractory epilepsy

The aim of this study was to explore whether patients with epilepsy show characteristic psychological profiles which might be risk factors for epileptic seizures. The instruments used in the case-control study were the Millon Behavioural Health Inventory (MBHI) and the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS). A sample of hospitalized patients with medically refractory epilepsy (n = 15) and a sample of healthy controls (n = 15) matched on age and gender. Compared to the controls, the patients with epilepsy showed different psychological profiles. The patients with epilepsy showed significantly higher scores on the basic coping styles MBHI Inhibition style and MBHI Sensitivity style, and lower scores on the MBHI Sociability and the MBHI Confidence. The epilepsy group also exhibited elevated scores on the MBHI psychogenic attitude scales Chronic tension, Recent stress, Pre-morbid pessimism, Social alienation and Somatic anxiety. The patient group had lower sensation-seeking scores on the AISS Novelty scale, the AISS Intensity scale and in AISS Total scores. Some patients with medically refractory epilepsy show dysfunctional coping styles. These factors should be taken into consideration in treatment and rehabilitation planning. The findings point to psychological risk factors for eliciting epileptic seizures.