Psychiatric morbidity in seizure patients on a neurodiagnostic monitoring unit

Abstract

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.