May the right-side epileptogenic zone be a predictor of psychiatric comorbidity in people with refractory epilepsy?

The aim of this study was to determine the rate and types of lifetime psychiatric disorders, as well as their predictors, in a sample of people with refractory epilepsy. Demographic, neurological, psychiatric and neuropsychological data, from people with refractory epilepsy, were registered at the pre-surgical interview. Linear regression was used to determine predictors. One hundred and ninety-one participants were included. Forty-six percent of our sample had at least one previous psychiatric diagnosis, most frequently depressive (64%), anxiety (10%), substance use (10%) and psychotic disorders (6%). Patients with a right-side epileptogenic zone had an increased risk for these disorders (OR 2.36; CI 1.22-4.56; p = 0.01). Specific epilepsy-related factors may raise the risk of developing a psychiatric disorder. Our study adds evidence to support a bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and mental health.