Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: a benign disorder? Personality traits and psychiatric symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
Since the clinical observations published by Janz in 1957, the presence of personality irregularities in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) has been described repeatedly, but never quantified using standardized assessments. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether juveniles with a short history of JME exhibit psychopathological symptoms and/or personality irregularities.


METHODS
We used standardized assessments, the Youth Self Report (YSR) and the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory (WAI).


RESULTS
Of 38 patients who fulfilled the study entry criteria, 25 agreed to participate and completed all surveys. On the YSR, our sample exhibited twice the amount of psychiatric symptoms than age-matched norms. Furthermore, psychopathological symptoms increased with duration of JME. According to WAI results, JME significantly affected self-restraint: patients with longer disease duration showed less self-control.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents with JME present not only with neurological abnormalities but also with significant psychopathology and personality irregularities. Our data suggest that psychological and behavioral changes are dynamic processes dependent on the progression of the disease.
Plattner
Belinda
B
Universitätsklinik für Neuropsychiatrie des Kindes und Jugendalters, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Wien, Vienna, Austria.
Pahs
Gerald
G
Kindler
Jochen
J
Williams
Ryan Patrick
RP
Hall
Rebecca Elizabeth
RE
Mayer
Hannes
H
Steiner
Hans
H
Feucht
Martha
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005013:Ethosuximide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D020190:Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D010556:Personality Tests; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000077236:Topiramate; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D005013:Ethosuximide; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D010889:Piracetam