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Post-ictal psychoses. A clinical and phenomenological description
1Department of Psychiatry, National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London.
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|February 1, 1988
Summary
Post-ictal psychoses, rare after seizures, often recur. This study examined 14 cases, revealing complex partial seizures as a common trigger and suggesting a potential organic cause for these psychotic episodes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Post-ictal psychoses are understudied neurological events.
- Limited research exists on their clinical presentation and etiology.
Observation:
- Examined 14 cases diagnosed with post-ictal psychosis using new criteria.
- Psychoses typically followed seizure clusters after a lucid interval.
- Partial complex seizures with secondary generalization were observed in 11 cases.
Findings:
- Phenomenology was pleomorphic, confirmed by Present State Examination.
- Psychotic episodes demonstrated a tendency to recur over an eight-year follow-up.
- Clinical details suggest similarities with chronic epileptic psychosis.
Implications:
- Highlights the need for further research into post-ictal psychosis.
- Proposes a potential organic etiology for these neurological and psychiatric conditions.
- Emphasizes the recurrent nature and diagnostic challenges of post-ictal psychosis.