title: Are psychotic symptoms related to vagus nerve stimulation in epilepsy patients?
abstract: Four patients with refractory epilepsy presented with psychotic symptoms following treatment with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) to control seizures. Besides its anti-epileptic effect VNS has been shown to have an effect on various cognitive and behavioural functions. VNS is known to increase alertness and reduce sedation, which is independent from seizure control. VNS has also been shown to positively affect cognition and to exert strong antidepressant effects. Co-morbidity in epilepsy often comprises psychiatric illnesses. Increased psychiatric symptoms have mainly been described in association with successful outcome following epilepsy surgery as a result of 'forced normalisation'. Different hypotheses on the underlying aetiology of VNS-induced psychotic symptoms other than the previously described 'forced normalisation' are discussed.
authors: Reference Center for Refractory Epilepsy, Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
authors: Veerle
authors: V
authors: De Herdt
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Boon
authors: Kristl
authors: K
authors: Vonck
authors: Lutgard
authors: L
authors: Goossens
authors: Lotte
authors: L
authors: Nieuwenhuis
authors: Koen
authors: K
authors: Paemeleire
authors: Veronique
authors: V
authors: Meire
authors: Geert
authors: G
authors: Michielsen
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Dewaele
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Baert
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: van Roost
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*