Left temporal rhythmic electrical activity: a correlate for psychosis? A case report

Epilepsy-related psychosis: a role for autoimmunity?

Postictal psychosis (PIP) is a serious psychiatric complication of epilepsy that occurs in approximately 6% of patients following multiple complex partial or generalized seizures. The psychosis is classically described as having a pleomorphic phenomenology, including paranoid, grandiose, and religious delusions as well as multimodal hallucinations with prominent affective changes and agitation. Little is understood about the pathophysiology of the condition. There has been a recent increase in interest in the relevance of autoimmunity to the pathogenesis of both epilepsy and psychosis. Studies have demonstrated the presence of antibodies directed against synaptic autoantigens (such as the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor or the voltage-gated potassium channel complex) in approximately 10% of cases of sporadic epilepsy. These same autoantibodies are known to cause encephalopathy syndromes which feature psychiatric symptoms, usually psychosis, as a prominent part of the phenotype as well as other neurological features such as seizures, movement disorders, and autonomic dysfunction. It is beginning to be asked if these antibodies can be associated with a purely psychiatric phenotype. Here, we hypothesize that PIP may be an autoimmune phenomenon mediated by autoantibodies against synaptic antigens. More specifically, we outline a potential mechanism whereby long or repeated seizures cause short-lived blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction during which the brain becomes exposed to pathogenic autoantibodies. In essence, we propose that PIP is a time-limited, seizure-dependent, autoantibody-mediated encephalopathy syndrome. We highlight a number of features of PIP that may be explained by this mechanism, such as the lucid interval between seizures and onset of psychosis and the progression in some cases to a chronic, interictal psychosis.

Basic treatment principles for psychotic disorders in patients with epilepsy

In patients with epilepsy, coexisting psychoses, either interictal (IIP) or postictal (PIP), are associated with serious disturbance in psychosocial function and well-being, and often require the care of a specialist. Unfortunately, evidence-based treatment systems for psychosis in patients with epilepsy have not yet been established. This article aims to propose concise and practical treatment procedures for IIP and PIP based on currently available data and international consensus statements, and primarily targeting nonpsychiatrist epileptologists who are often the first to be involved in the management of these complex patients. Accurate and early diagnosis of IIP and PIP and their staging in terms of acuity and severity form the essential first step in management. It is important to suspect the presence of psychosis whenever patients manifest unusual behavior. Knowledge of psychopathology and both individual and epilepsy-related vulnerabilities relevant to IIP and PIP facilitate early diagnosis. Treatment for IIP involves (1) obtaining consent to psychiatric treatment from the patient, whenever possible, (2) optimization of antiepileptic drugs, and (3) initiation of antipsychotic pharmacotherapy in line with symptom severity and severity of behavioral and functional disturbance. Basic psychosocial interventions will help reinforce adherence to treatment and should be made available. Due consideration must be given to patients' ability to provide informed consent to treatment in the short term, with the issue being revisited regularly over time. Given the often prolonged and recurrent nature of IIP, treatment frequently needs to be long-term. Treatment of PIP consists of two aspects, that is, acute protective measures and preventive procedures in repetitive episodes. Protective measures prioritize the management of risk in the early stages, and may involve sedation with or without the use of antipsychotic drugs, and the judicious application of local mental health legislation if appropriate. As for preventative procedures, optimizing seizure control by adjusting antiepileptic drugs or by surgical treatment is necessary.

Postictal psychosis and its electrophysiological correlates in invasive EEG: a case report study and literature review

We identified two patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy, from whom intracranial EEG recordings were obtained at the time of postictal psychosis. Both patients had mesial temporal epilepsy associated with hippocampal sclerosis. In both patients, the postictal psychosis was associated with a continual "epileptiform" EEG pattern that differed from their interictal and ictal EEG findings (rhythmical slow wave and "abortive" spike-slow wave complex activity in the right hippocampus and lateral temporal cortex in case 1 and a periodic pattern of triphasic waves in the contacts recording activity from the left anterior cingulate gyrus). Some cases of postictal psychosis might be caused by the transient impairment of several limbic system structures due to the "continual epileptiform discharge" in some brain regions. Case 2 is the first report of a patient with TLE in whom psychotic symptoms were associated with the epileptiform impairment of the anterior cingulate gyrus.

EEG: a helpful tool in the prediction of psychosis

OBJECTIVE

EEG investigation in patients with an at risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis and patients with a first episode of psychosis (FE) in comparison to healthy controls (HC) in a clinical follow up study of Early Detection of Psychosis.

METHOD

Seventy-three patients (42 ARMS, 31 FE) and 35 HC were investigated. ARMS patients were followed up in order to monitor transition to psychosis. Psychopathology was assessed with respect to positive and negative symptoms. At study baseline EEG was recorded using the 10/20 system. Two blinded neurologists analyzed the EEGs visually for presence of generalized or focal slowing and epileptiform discharges. EEG data were controlled for medication and substance abuse. For statistical analyses we used chi(2)-tests, logistic regression, ANOVA, and receiver operating characteristics.

RESULTS

Patients showed significantly more pathological EEG abnormalities than HC (P < 0.05), located more frequently in temporal or fronto-temporal regions (P < 0.01) of the brain, with twice as many pathologies in ARMS than in FE patients. The specificity of the prediction of psychosis could be increased from 59 to 73% by considering EEG pathology in addition to psychopathology alone. In contrast, sensitivity of prediction remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that EEG investigation in patients at risk for psychosis can add to the identification of those patients who will not develop psychosis later on.