EPILEPSY AND PSYCHIATRIC DISTURBANCE - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

One hundred patients with cryptogenic epilepsy and normal intelligence and 100 age- and sex-matched controls were submitted to psychiatric i nterview using the Clinical Interview Schedule. Nineteen patients and 15 controls were identified as having psychiatric disorders. Anxiety a nd depression were the predominating diagnoses in both groups. Persona lity disorders Were occasionally present in subjects with epilepsy. Th e study shows that patients with cryptogenic epilepsy and normal neuro psychological abilities should not be considered at any higher risk of psychiatric disturbance than a non-neurological patient population.