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Psychiatric disorders before and after surgery for epilepsy
Epilepsia
|March 21, 2002
Summary
Epilepsy surgery can impact psychiatric disorders, with one-third of patients experiencing them before or after. While some pre-existing conditions resolved, new or persistent issues emerged in others, particularly in younger patients with personality traits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Epileptology
Background:
- Psychiatric disorders are common in epilepsy patients.
- Epilepsy surgery aims to improve seizure control but can affect mental health.
- Understanding psychiatric changes post-surgery is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of psychiatric disorders before and after epilepsy surgery.
- To analyze postoperative psychiatric changes in patients undergoing focal resection.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 226 adult epilepsy patients (age >18, IQ >50) who had focal resection surgery was studied.
- Patients were followed for over two years post-surgery to assess psychiatric status.
- Psychiatric evaluations included assessments for psychosis, affective, and neurotic/behavioral disorders.
Main Results:
- 34.5% of patients had psychiatric disorders pre- or post-surgery, with temporal lobe epilepsy being common.
- Of those with pre-existing disorders, one-third improved, while two-thirds persisted.
- New transient affective disorders occurred post-surgery in some, and chronic issues in a minority, often linked to younger age and personality traits.
Conclusions:
- Approximately one-third of epilepsy surgery patients experience psychiatric disorders.
- Epilepsy surgery outcomes for psychiatric conditions vary, with some improving and others persisting or worsening.
- Younger patients with specific personality traits are at higher risk for aggravated psychiatric conditions post-surgery.