Psychosis with frontal lobe epilepsy responds to carbamazepine.
Frontal lobe epilepsy is an unusual form of complex partial seizures associated with behavioral changes including fear, agitation, kicking, and screaming. The seizures are often missed or mistaken for psychiatric problems or sleep disorders. We report 2 unusual patients presenting with psychosis who were found to have frequent frontal lobe seizures. Treatment of the seizures with carbamazepine resulted in complete resolution of their psychiatric symptoms. The relationship between frontal lobe seizures and psychosis is explored.
Sinclair
D Barry
DB
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. barry.sinclair@capitalhealth.ca
Snyder
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine