Post-ictal psychoses. A clinical and phenomenological description.
Post-ictal psychoses have so far received little attention. The clinical details of 14 cases, diagnosed according to newly formulated criteria, were examined. Psychoses were usually precipitated by a run of seizures and occurred after a lucid interval. The seizures were partial complex with secondary generalisation in 11 cases. Catego analysis of the Present State Examination confirmed pleomorphic phenomenology. Follow-up details were available in all cases, for up to eight years. Psychoses tended to recur. Similarities with chronic epileptic psychosis are discussed, and a possible organic aetiology for post-ictal psychosis is proposed.
Logsdail
S J
SJ
Department of Psychiatry, National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London.
Toone
B K
BK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003221:Confusion; D003693:Delirium; D003702:Delusions; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014474:Unconsciousness