Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders characterized by epileptic seizures characterized by anywhere from brief and nearly undetectable periods to long periods of vigorous shaking. Epilepsy has significant psychiatric implications, in particular with psychosis.

A practical definition of epilepsy is if the patient meets one of the following:[1]

  1. At least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring greater than 24 hours apart
  2. One unprovoked (or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk (at least 60%) after two unprovoked seizures, occurring over the next 10 years
  3. Diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), a subcategory of the seizure disorder, is a complex neuropsychiatric illness, where neurological presentation may present with affective, behavioural, psychotic, and/or personality changes. This may lead to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.

Epigastric or visceral aura is by far the commonest symptom of medial temporal lobe seizures.[2]