J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1995; 7:445-456
Copyright © 1995 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Psychiatric morbidity in seizure patients on a neurodiagnostic monitoring unit
D Blumer, G Montouris and B Hermann
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee- Memphis, USA.
This study aimed to clarify prevalence and type of psychiatric disorders
among 97 consecutive patients with seizures who were admitted for
neurodiagnostic monitoring. Of the 97 patients, 33 (34%) had an atypical
mood disorder, 21 (22%) had pseudoseizures, and 9 (9%) had other
psychiatric disorders, for a total of 63 (65%) in need of psychiatric
treatment. Patients with the atypical mood disorder had predominantly
depressive symptoms, which occurred intermittently, were associated with
episodes of irritability, and alternated with briefer euphoric moods.
Anxiety and phobic symptoms occurred less often. The existence of an
epilepsy-specific mood disorder is suggested.
