Psychosocial status before and after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery: a prospective clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this prospective work was to evaluate the relationship between seizure outcome and psychosocial status in patients who underwent temporal lobe epilepsy surgery for medically intractable seizure.


METHODS
The Liverpool Psychosocial Battery, which includes physical, social, and psychological domains, was completed by 63 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy before surgery, as well as 6 months and 2 years after surgery. The differences regarding the Liverpool Psychosocial Battery domains were compared between seizure-free and nonseizure-free patients at 6 months and 2 years after surgery. Serial follow-up results were also compared with the baseline.


RESULTS
On all measures, patients showed significantly better scores after surgery compared with the baseline (P < 0.05). Although seizure-free patients showed improved "psychosocial" outcome over those who continued to have seizures, the differences did not reach a significant level on social and psychological domains.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery has significantly positive effects on psychosocial outcome in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. However, positive psychosocial changes are not limited to those patients who became seizure free after surgery.
Tanriverdi
Taner
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. tanerato2000@yahoo.com
Poulin
Nicole
N
Olivier
Andre
A
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D011584:Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants