EPILEPSY AND PSYCHOSIS

Abstract

Epilepsy, a disorder known since antiquity, is a common neuropsychiatric disease. Commorbid psychiatric phenomena in these patients cover literally the whole spectrum of psychopathology and are the object of intensive research and study.
Psychoses in epilepsy may manifest as interictal disorders as well as psychotic phenomena that have a close time relationship either with the seizure episode or with the antiepileptic treatment.
Recognition and understanding of psychosis in patients with epilepsy is of great help for proper diagnosis and better treatment. This way, prevention of deterioration of the health status and the quality of life of patients may be achieved. Furthermore, economic gains may ensue due to the reduction of hospitalizations for these problems. Co-operation between neurologists and psychiatrists for the medical care of these patients is of great importance since it ensures that provision of full and better care in a holistic, biopsychosocial matrix takes place.
We present a literature review and we describe the frequency, clinical manifestations and etiopathogenesis of psychoses in patients with epilepsy. We focus on interictal and postictal psychoses due to their higher frequency rate, their severity and their adverse effects for the life of patients and their families.