Psychiatric disorders in epilepsy. Communication I

Psychiatric abnormalities represent important, although not obligate, clinical manifestation of epilepsy. They are characterized by variability, interrelation with particular disease forms and seizure types, as well as by significant influence on patients’ quality of life. Precise assessment of these disturbances in each case is important for carrying out differential diagnosis, determining prognosis and prescribing adequate therapy. In the paper, on the basis of extensive personal experience and literature data, classification of various ictal, interictal and postictal psychiatric abnormalities is proposed, detailed phenomenology of mind disorders in epilepsy is presented, and relevant risk factors are analyzed.