Personality patterns of people with medically refractory epilepsy - Does the epileptogenic zone matter?

The aims of this study were to determine the rate of dysfunctional personality patterns before and after epilepsy surgery, their types, and the importance of the epileptogenic zone in a sample of people with refractory epilepsy.

We conducted an ambispective observational study, including refractory epilepsy surgery candidates. Demographic, psychiatric, and neurological data were recorded. Evaluation of personality was made using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II). Presurgical predictors of personality patterns were determined using a linear regression model. The proportion of patients with dysfunctional personality patterns, before and after surgery, was compared using the Mcnemar's test. Then a generalized estimating equation model was performed to include predictors of changes in this rate.

One hundred and ninety-nine participants were included. Seventy percent had a dysfunctional personality pattern before surgery. After surgery, this percentage dropped to 58%. The difference was statistically significant after adjusting for potential confounders (p = 0.013). The most common types were Cluster C personality patterns. Temporal epileptogenic zone was a significant predictor of higher scores of the Avoidant (Coef. 11.8; Confidence Interval (CI) -0.59 23.7; p = 0.051) and Compulsive (Coef. 9.55; CI 2.48 16.6; p = 0.008) personality patterns and lower scores of Histrionic (Coef. -11.4; CI -21.2 -1.55; p = 0.024) and Antisocial (Coef. -8.4; CI -15.6 -1.25; p = 0.022) personality patterns, compared to extratemporal epileptogenic zone.

People with refractory epilepsy have high rates of dysfunctional personality patterns. These patterns differ according to the epileptogenic zone.