Disturbi psichiatrici ed epilessia – Parte II

Description

Psychiatric disorders in epileptic patients may present with different patterns. Some disorders are strictly associated with the abnormal brain activity that characterises seizures, both during crisis and immediately afterwards. Interictal psychiatric disorders which develop during seizure-free intervals are related to numerous factors. These are either directly linked with epilepsy or are secondary to the effect of drug treatment and to the psychosocial consequences of having a chronic and invalidating disease. The problem of the existence of an epileptic personality is still open. Some common personality characteristics may appear to emerge upon observation of epileptic patients, but it is impossible to draw conclusions as to the existence of a specific personality pattern. Most recent data appear not to confirm the association between epilepsy and violent behaviour. Although epilepsy and associated psychiatric disorders are strictly interconnected and, in some cases, they underlie a similar pathogenetic mechanism, a correct diagnostic classification is basic to enforce treatments which are adequate to the complexity of such interconnection and to improve the quality of life of epileptic patients.