title: Negative symptoms and psychosocial status in temporal lobe epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between negative symptoms, psychosocial function and quality of life in temporal lobe epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  23 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy with negative symptoms were matched on gender, age, years of education, duration and age of epilepsy onset with 23 temporal lobe epilepsy patients exhibiting no negative symptoms as determined by a standardized rating system (SANS/SAPS). The matched groups were compared in regard to: (1). employment status, (2). dependence on government financial subsidy, (3). relationship/marital status, and (4). self-reported quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Temporal lobe epilepsy patients with negative symptoms exhibited higher rates of unemployment, dependence on government aid, social isolation, and poorer self-reported quality of life relative to temporal lobe patients without negative symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interictal negative symptoms are associated with significantly increased psychosocial morbidity and poorer quality of life in temporal lobe epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, C G Matthews Neuropsychology Lab, 600 N Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
authors.forename: Kiesa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Getz
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seidenberg
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dow
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Austin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woodard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D011632:Public Assistance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D014478:Unemployment