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Does neuroticism influence cognitive self-assessment after epilepsy surgery?
S Cañizares1, X Torres, T Boget
1Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology of the University of Barcelona, Spain.
Epilepsia
|October 29, 2000
Summary
Personality traits, specifically neuroticism, significantly impact how patients perceive their cognitive function after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery, independent of seizure control. Psychological factors are crucial for managing patients undergoing epilepsy surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Epileptology
Background:
- Refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often necessitates surgical intervention.
- Assessing post-surgical outcomes requires understanding subjective patient experiences.
- Cognitive functioning is a key concern for patients with epilepsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of cognitive, personality, and seizure outcome variables on subjective cognitive functioning in patients with refractory TLE post-surgery.
- To determine predictors of subjective cognitive functioning after epilepsy surgery.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 33 patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy undergoing surgery were evaluated.
- Pre- and post-operative assessments included objective cognitive tests, subjective cognitive functioning measures, and personality assessments.
- Seizure control was dichotomously defined.
Main Results:
- Neuroticism demonstrated a significant inverse relationship with subjective cognitive functioning.
- No other pre- or post-operative cognitive or seizure outcome variables predicted subjective cognitive functioning, even when controlling for neuroticism.
Conclusions:
- Subjective and objective memory functioning are distinct in post-surgical epilepsy patients.
- Subjective cognitive functioning is primarily linked to neuroticism, not seizure relief.
- Personality traits and psychological distress warrant consideration in the clinical management of epilepsy surgery patients.