Personality and neuropsychological aspects of temporal lobe epileptics and schizophrenics

The present study was designed to ascertain and explore whether distinct personality profiles and neuropsychological features characterized temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) vs. schizophrenic patients (Sc). The subjects were 20 epileptics and 19 schizophrenics matched with an overall IQ. They underwent various personality and neuropsychological tests. These results showed that the personality of the left-TLE patients tended to be more sensitive, aggressive, hostile and emotionally labile than the right-TLE and Sc patients. Finally, the Sc patients showed poor performance in verbal and nonverbal delayed tasks, especially on the right visual hemifield ones. These results suggested that they have the frontal lobe dysfunction, especially of the left hemisphere.