title: Psychosis or epilepsy--a diagnostic and management quandary.
abstract: MB suffered an episode of status epilepticus of febrile origin at the age of 20 months. This was followed at two years by complex partial seizures of temporal lobe origin and at eight years he had learning difficulties arising from the dominant hemisphere. Subsequent symptoms included auditory, visual and olfactory hallucinations which were not controlled by antipsychotics or antiepileptics. EEG and MRI were unhelpful and alternating diagnoses of schizophrenia and temporal lobe epilepsy were made. Now aged 17 years, he has a diagnosis of schizophreniform psychosis with temporal lobe abnormality from status epilepticus in childhood, and is managed by an adult psychiatrist. His symptoms persist.
authors.affiliation: Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Minns
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valentine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000187:drug effects; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents