Relationship between post-operative depression/anxiety and hippocampal/amygdala volumes in temporal lobectomy for epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often present mood disturbances, which may either exacerbate or remit following surgery. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between post-operative depressive/anxiety symptoms and hippocampal/amygdala volumes following anterior temporal lobectomy.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients operated for TLE were assessed for mood disturbances by the Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Beck anxiety inventory (BAI). Post-operative MRI data were collected and volumetric analysis of the hippocampi (HV) and amygdala (AV) was performed. Correlations between volumetric data, measures of mood, and demographic and clinical data were calculated.


RESULTS
BDI scores significantly correlated with the intact HV (p=0.029) as well as the absolute difference between the intact and remnant HV (p=0.021). This was evident in left-side resections (p=0.049); in right-side resections the correlation was marginally non- significant (p=0.057). Depressed patients also had smaller remnant AV (p=0.002). Furthermore, BAI was negatively correlated with the HV remnant in left-side resections (p=0.038). No other significant associations between post-operative mood disturbances and various demographic and clinical variables were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The severity of depressive symptomatology in operated epilepsy patients correlates with the extent of hippocampal and amygdala resection; this association appears to be more evident in left-side resections.
Section of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, DeCrespigny Park, London, United Kingdom. tpaparrig@med.uoa.gr
Thomas
T
Paparrigopoulos
Panagiotis
P
Ferentinos
Barbara
B
Brierley
Philip
P
Shaw
Anthony S
AS
David
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D038481:Anterior Temporal Lobectomy; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult