Episodic depersonalization in focal epilepsy.
In this report a patient with episodic depersonalization is described. As the depersonalization episodes had been attributed to partial seizures, this patient was treated with antiepileptic medication. However, clinical evaluation with long-term video/EEG revealed no evidence of seizure activity during the depersonalization episodes. On the other hand, further evaluation revealed findings that are frequently associated with focal epilepsy. In addition to episodic depersonalization, this patient had secondary generalized seizures. The relationship between episodic depersonalization, temporal lobe pathology, and epilepsy is discussed against the background of this case.
Dietl
Thomas
T
Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. t.dietl@web.de
Bien
Christian
C
Urbach
Horst
H
Elger
Christian
C
Kurthen
Martin
M
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000209:etiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods