J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1989; 1:418-425
Copyright © 1989 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
The nature and management of aggression in epilepsy
P Fenwick
Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, England.
Minor episodes of aggressive behavior are relatively common in some
populations of patients with epilepsy. However, they are probably no more
common than in populations who are socially disadvantaged or who have brain
damage. The confusion that commonly follows seizures can lead to apparently
aggressive behavior. Rarely, the seizure itself may lead to directed
aggression; very rarely does it lead to murderous attacks. Although
post-ictal psychotic aggression is usually not severe, when it is driven by
prominent delusions and hallucinations, it can result in self-destructive
acts or serious violence. Clearly, however, it is quite unfair to globally
classify epileptics as aggressive, and the time has come to abandon this
stereotype.
