Mental Aspects of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Follow-Up of 74 Patients After Resection of a Temporal Lobe

Psychiatric disorders were investigated in 74 patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. In all cases unilateral anterior temporal lobectomy had been performed during the period 1960-1969. At follow-up in 1970-71, 45 patients were free from seizures, & in a further group of 15 patients seizure frequency had been substantially reduced. There were four postoperative deaths. Six patients were psychiatrically normal & had no history of any such disorder. Behavioural disturbances were observed in 55 patients. Before operation 11 patients displayed schizophrenia-like psychoses, & nine others became psychotic during follow-up. Fourteen patients attempted suicide on one or more occasions. (39 refs)