Do psychiatric comorbidities predict postoperative seizure outcome in temporal lobe epilepsy surgery?

Surgical treatment may improve depressive and hysterical traits in temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis: Study using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

Aim

The influence of surgeries on psychiatric symptoms and personality traits is not well known in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We investigated changes in personality traits with respect to postoperative seizure outcomes, etiology, side of surgery, and sex differences.

Methods

Clinical information was retrospectively collected for 44 patients whose Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was examined before and 1 year after surgical treatment for drug-resistant TLE. Postoperative changes in MMPI T-scores were analyzed using a paired t-test. Participants were divided into two groups based on postoperative seizure outcome, the presence or absence of hippocampal sclerosis (HS) as the etiology, side of surgery, and sex differences. The effect of these clinical factors on postoperative changes in MMPI T-scores was evaluated using analysis of covariance (P-values < 0.05).

Results

The hypochondria (Hs) scale decreased significantly in all patients (p = 0.022). The postoperative seizure-free group had a significant decrease in the depression (D) scale (p = 0.037). The HS group had significant decreases in the D scale and the hysteria (Hy) scale (p = 0.016 and 0.004, respectively), and a significant increase in the masculinity-femininity (Mf) scale (p = 0.009). No significant differences existed between the sides of surgery or sex.

Conclusion

Depressive traits were improved in patients with postoperative seizure freedom. Depressive and hysterical traits were improved in patients with HS, which may be attributed to a reduction in anxiety and fear associated with aura. Most personality traits are not significantly changed or exacerbated by surgical treatment of TLE.

Epilepsy surgery for dominant-side mesial temporal lobe epilepsy without hippocampal sclerosis

Although anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) is an established surgery for medically intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), it can harm memory function, especially in dominant-side MTLE patients without hippocampal sclerosis (HS). To avoid this complication, multiple hippocampal transection (MHT) was developed, but its efficacy has not been fully elucidated. We report the detailed treatment results of MHT compared with that of ATL. We retrospectively analysed the records of 30 patients who underwent surgery for dominant-side MTLE. ATL was completed for 23 patients with HS, and MHT was completed for 7 patients without HS. The seizure control status, number of anti-seizure medicines, neurocognitive function, and psychiatric disorders of each patient were reviewed. The mean follow-up period was 70 months. Seizure control of Engel class I was achieved in 16 patients (70%) in the ALT group versus 5 patients (71%) in the MHT group. The mean number of anti-seizure medicines administered in the ATL group changed significantly from 2.4 to 1.9 (p = 0.01), while that in the MHT group was unchanged (from 2.1 to 2.0, p = 0.77). Eleven patients (48%) in the ATL group developed psychiatric disorders during the postoperative follow-up period, whereas no psychological complications were observed in the MHT group. Neither group showed neurocognitive decline after the surgery in any of the WAIS-III or WMS-R subtests. In conclusion, MHT may achieve reasonable postoperative seizure reduction, preserve neurocognitive function, and reduce postoperative psychiatric complications. Therefore, it can be considered as a therapeutic option for dominant-side MTLE without HS.

Psychiatric outcomes after temporal lobe surgery in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and comorbid psychiatric illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The currently available evidence is unclear in regard to psychiatric outcomes of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders (PD).

AIM

To identify and synthesize psychiatric outcomes in patients with TLE and comorbid psychiatric illnesses before and after TLE surgery.

METHODS

Studies were included if participants were adults and/or children with temporal epilepsy and comorbid psychiatric illness. Surgical interventions included focal resection (e.g., lobectomy, selective amygdalohippocampectomy) or stereotactic laser ablation. Included studies reported on pre- and post- surgery data of comorbid psychiatric illness (e.g., mood and anxiety disorders, depression, psychosis, adjustment disorders, non-epileptic seizures, and personality disorders).

RESULTS

Ten studies were included in the review. The proportion of patients achieving PD resolution or improvements after surgery varied widely between studies, ranging from 15 % to 57 % at the reported follow-up time. Three studies reported on PD symptom worsening after surgery, with considerable variations of patient proportions across studies. Meta-analysis suggests that 43 % of patients demonstrated improvement and 33 % of patients showed a worsening in psychiatric scores across all studies. Preliminary data from three studies suggest that seizure control may be associated with favourable psychiatric outcomes.

CONCLUSION

A considerable proportion of reported TLE patients with comorbid psychiatric illnesses have improvement in their psychiatric symptoms after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. There is scarcity of detailed outcome reporting including symptom scores, and to date, predictive factors for favourable vs unfavourable outcomes in this patient population are not clear. Further research on the topic is warranted.

Anxiety as a Risk Factor for Postoperative Delirium in Elective Spine Deformity Surgeries: A National Database Study

Introduction Generalized anxiety disorder has become one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the United States. In addition, postoperative delirium has been shown to increase hospital stay, increase mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Few studies have looked at the prevalence of postoperative delirium in patients diagnosed with anxiety undergoing elective spinal deformity procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine if anxiety is a risk factor for postoperative delirium in elective spinal deformity surgeries. Methods The authors performed a retrospective analysis using the TriNetX Research Database. Patients diagnosed with kyphosis or lordosis who then underwent elective spinal correction surgeries were identified. This group was then separated based on the diagnosis of a generalized anxiety disorder before the operation versus no diagnosis. Propensity score adjustment, based on mental disorders and other risk factors, was then used to match cohorts on baseline demographics and characteristics. Analysis was performed on the primary outcome of postoperative delirium, with secondary outcomes of upper respiratory tract infections, surgical site infections, sepsis, ventilator dependence, convulsions, stroke, emergency department visits, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and urinary retention within 30 days after surgery. Results Our search included 1,211 patients with a diagnosis of anxiety and 8,055 patients without anxiety. After propensity score matching, 996 patients remained in each cohort. Statistical analysis showed significant outcomes between the matched cohorts in the anxiety group for postoperative delirium (OR 2.788; 1.587-4.899) and convulsions (OR 1.615; 1.006-2.592). All other outcomes were not significant after propensity score matching. Conclusion These results showed generalized anxiety disorder is a risk factor for postoperative delirium and convulsions after elective spine surgery. Further research is necessary on the effects of mental health disorders on postoperative delirium and other outcomes to better understand the risks in this population.

Learning from the comorbidities of epilepsy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Comorbidities are a common feature in epilepsy, but neither the entire spectrum nor the significance of such comorbidities has been fully explored. We review comorbidities associated with epilepsy and their associated burden, provide an overview of relationships, and discuss a new conceptualization of the comorbidities.

RECENT FINDINGS

The epidemiology of the comorbidities of epilepsy and effects on health outcomes, healthcare use, and healthcare expenditures have been partly delineated. Distinct mechanisms of the associations have been suggested but not entirely ascertained. Movement from conceptualizing epilepsy as a condition to a symptom-complex has occurred.

SUMMARY

Comorbidities are common among people with epilepsy and are associated with poorer clinical outcomes and quality of life, greater use of health resources, and increased expenditure. Becoming aware of the associated mechanisms and their uncertainty is central to understanding the relationships between epilepsy and comorbid health conditions, which have implications for diagnosis and screening, medical management, and surgical management. Conceptualizing comorbidities of epilepsy as precipitating factors and epilepsy as the symptom will improve the understanding of epilepsy and catalyze research and improvements in clinical practice.

How predictable is heart rate variability in Brazilian patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy?

This study aimed to compare heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) with healthy controls and to analyze their clinical and sociodemographic variables predictive for HRV. Thirty-nine consecutive patients with drug-resistant MTLE were included in the study. The control group included twenty-seven healthy participants matched by age and gender. Seven HRV indices (HR, RR, rMSSD, SDNN, LF, HF, and LF/HF) were compared between patients and controls. The clinical and sociodemographic variables independently associated with the HRV indices were identified by multiple linear regression. In comparison with controls, the patients with MTLE showed a significant reduction in RR, rMSSD, SDNN, LF, HF, and LF/HF indices (t value 1.97-5.97, p < 0.05). Multiple regression models showed that disease duration predicted 11-22% of the analyzed HRV indices. Time domain indices showed higher association with disease duration than coefficients in frequency domain. Patients with drug-resistant MTLE present cardiac autonomic tone dysfunction, showing a significant reduction in their HRV indices (RR, SDNN, rMSSD, LF, HF, and LF/HF). Disease duration has a negative association with all HRV indices. This study contributes to understanding the relationship between MTLE and the cardiac autonomic tone, with possible implications for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

Mood Disturbances, Anxiety, and Impact on Quality of Life in Patients Admitted to Epilepsy Monitoring Units

Introduction: The overall combined prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with epilepsy has been estimated at 20.2 and 22.9%, respectively, and is considered more severe in drug-refractory epilepsy. Patients admitted to epilepsy monitoring units constitute a particular group. Also, patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures can reach more than 20% of all admissions. This study aims to characterize these symptoms in a large cohort of patients admitted for evaluation in a tertiary epilepsy center.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 493 consecutive patients (age: 38.78 ± 12.7, 57% females) admitted for long-term video EEG from January 2013 to February 2021. Demographic, clinical, and mood disorder patients' data were collected. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed through the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS-A and HADS-D), the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Quality of life was determined using the QOLIE-10. Patients were divided into three groups: patients with epilepsy (n = 395), psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) (n = 56), and combined (n = 33). A univariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed for variables associated with quality of life.

Results: Of 493 patients, 45.0% had structural etiology, and considering epilepsy classification, 43.6% were of temporal lobe origin. In addition, 32.45% of patients had a previous psychiatric history, 49.9% of patients had depressive symptoms in BDI, and 30.9% according to HADS-D; 56.42 and 52.63% of patients presented pathological anxiety scores in STAI-T and STAI-S, respectively; and 44.78% according to HADS-A. PNES and combined groups revealed a higher incidence of pathologic BDI scores (64.29 and 78.79%, p < 0.001) as well as pathologic HADS-A scores (p = 0.001). Anxiety and depression pathologic results are more prevalent in females, HADS-A (females = 50.7%, males = 36.8%; p = 0.0027) and BDI > 13 (females = 56.6%, males = 41.0%; p = 0.0006). QOLIE-10 showed that 71% of the patients had their quality of life affected with significantly higher scores in the combined group than in the epilepsy and PNES groups (p = 0.0015).

Conclusions: Subjective anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life are highly prevalent in patients with refractory epilepsy. These symptoms are more evident when PNES are associated with epilepsy and more severe among female patients. Most of the cases were not previously diagnosed. These factors should be considered in everyday clinical practice, and specific approaches might be adapted depending on the patient's profile.

Psychiatric alterations after previous temporal lobectomy: Report of cases and review

INTRODUCTION

Anterior temporal lobectomy (LTA) is a surgical procedure commonly used for the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy refractory to medical management, with high success rates in the control of seizures. However, an important association with psychiatric illnesses has been described that can alter the postoperative outcome in these patients.

METHODS

A series of 2 cases of patients who, despite successful crisis control, developed psychiatric complications in the postoperative period of anterior temporal lobectomy.

RESULTS

The cases included a male patient with no history of previous mental illness, who developed a major depressive episode in the postoperative period, and a female patient with previous psychosis who presented as a surgical complication exacerbation of psychosis, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric disorders can occur in postoperative temporal lobe epilepsy patients with or without a history of mental illness. The most frequent alterations reported are depression, anxiety, psychosis and personality disorders. The inclusion of psychiatric evaluations in the pre- and post-surgical protocols can lead to an improvement in the prognosis of the neurological and mental outcomes of the patients undergoing the intervention.

Ayahuasca, an ancient substance with traditional and contemporary use in neuropsychiatry and neuroscience

Ayahuasca is a botanical hallucinogenic preparation traditionally used for ritual and therapeutic purposes by native populations of the Northwestern Amazon. In the last decades, ayahuasca use has spread to Europe, the United States, Asia, and Africa, and interest in the possible therapeutic uses of ayahuasca for treating anxiety and mood disorder and substance-use disorders has increased both among the general public and the scientific community. Indeed, preclinical, observational, and preliminary clinical studies have corroborated some of these findings. In the present article, we present an overview of these studies and highlight the current uses of ayahuasca in neuroscience, such as a tool in the investigation of the neural basis of introspection and other complex cognitive processes.

Ultra-short heart rate variability reliability for cardiac autonomic tone assessment in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Autonomic dysfunction in epilepsy is well-described. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful method to evaluate autonomic cardiac tone. Cardiac dysfunction may be involved in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). HRV is a promising biomarker to enlighten the heart-brain axis role in SUDEP, but the required duration for a proper HRV recording in clinical routine remains unknown. This study aimed to verify the reliability of ultra-short HRV indices to evaluate cardiac autonomic tone in patients with epilepsy (PWE). Thirty-nine patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) had electrocardiogram recordings during the first day of video-EEG. Pearson's correlations were performed to evaluate the association between ultra-short HRV indices (five 1-min and five 30-s epochs) with standard time recording (5-min) and ANOVA compared the differences between mean HRV indices across epochs. Time domain (TD) indices showed higher mean r values when compared to frequency domain (FD) indices in 1-min (TD: r 0.80-0.99, FD: r 0.61-0.95) and 30-s epochs (TD: r 0.69-0.99, only high frequency: mean r values of 0.96). ANOVA evidenced that standard deviation of RR intervals and very low frequency means had at least 3 epochs significantly different for 1-min and 30-s epochs. Root mean square of the successive differences of RR intervals (rMSSD) presented higher Pearson's coefficient values and lower percentage of variation at 1-min or 30-s epochs in comparison to other HRV indices. In conclusion, rMSSD is the most reliable ultra-short HRV index for cardiac autonomic tone assessment in MTLE. The prognostic value of ultra-short HRV for cardiovascular risk evaluation in epilepsy remains to be determined in future studies.

The impact of preoperative anxiety on patients undergoing brain surgery: a systematic review

Preoperative anxiety is a common reaction exhibited by up to 80% of patients who are scheduled for surgical procedures and characterized by psychological and physical changes which may affect their perioperative period. Our aim is to report the most up-to-date evidence on preoperative anxiety in brain surgery patients through a systematic analysis of the studies produced in the last decades. We performed a systematic review of literature by searching PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Data were extracted using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome framework and critically analyzed. PRISMA guidelines were applied, and the risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the Risk of bias (RoB) 2 and ROBINS tools, as was the methodological quality, following GRADE criteria. We included 27 articles, accounting for 2558 patients in twelve different countries. The prevalence of preoperative anxiety ranged from 17 up to 89%, higher in female patients. Preoperative anxiety was associated with lower quality of life and cognitive performance, higher need for information, poorer memory and attention, longer hospitalization, depressive symptoms, and increase of physical disability; no correlation with survival rate was found. Seven randomized controlled trials attested the efficacy of acupuncture, music therapy, virtual reality, and pharmacological support in lowering anxiety levels. Preoperative anxiety is a common phenomenon that could negatively affect the perioperative period of brain surgery patients: this is something that should not be neglected to achieve better care through early prevention and optimal management.

Ictal fear is associated with anxiety symptoms and interictal dysphoric disorder in drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Interictal dysphoric disorder (IDD) is a poorly understood psychiatric disorder of epilepsy patients. Interictal dysphoric disorder is characterized by depressive, somatoform, and affective symptoms observed in up to 5.9% of drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS). This study aimed to evaluate the association between ictal fear (IF) and the psychiatric symptoms and diagnosis in MTLE-HS patients. We included 116 (54.3% male) consecutive adult patients (36 ± 11 years) with MTLE-HS. Anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the psychiatric diagnosis were according to Fourth Edition of the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The independent association between the occurrence of IF aura and the psychiatric diagnosis was determined by binary regression. When compared to those with other auras or without aura, patients reporting IF have higher HADS anxiety, but not HADS depression, scores. Ictal fear was independently associated with the diagnosis of interictal dysphoric disorder (OR, IC 95% = 7.6, 1.3-43.2, p = 0.02), but not with the diagnosis of anxiety (OR, CI 95% = 0.72, 0.08-6.0, p = 0.73), depression (OR, CI 95% = 0.94, 0.19-4.8, p = 0.94) or psychotic disorders (p = 0.99). Only patients with drug-resistant MTLE-HS were included and the small number of cases with DD diagnosis in the sample. In MTLE-HS patients, the occurrence of IF is associated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms and IDD. The results provide insights about fear-related neural network connections with anxiety symptoms and the IDD in MTLE-HS.

AMPAr GluA1 Phosphorylation at Serine 845 in Limbic System Is Associated with Cardiac Autonomic Tone

The central autonomic network, which is connected to the limbic system structures including the amygdala (AMY) and anterior hippocampus (aHIP), regulates the sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation of visceromotor, neuroendocrine, pain, and behavior manifestations during stress responses. Heart rate variability (HRV) is useful to estimate the cardiac autonomic tone. The levels of phosphorylation on the Ser831 and Ser845 sites of the GluA1 subunit of the AMPAr (P-GluA1-Ser845 and P-GluA1-Ser831) are useful markers of synaptic plasticity. The relation between synaptic plasticity in the human limbic system structures and autonomic regulation in humans is unknown. This study investigated the association between HRV and neurochemistry biomarkers of synaptic plasticity in AMY and aHIP. HRV indices were obtained from the resting state electrocardiogram of patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE, n = 18) and the levels of P-GluA1-Ser845 and P-GluA1-Ser831 in the AMY and aHIP resected during the epilepsy surgery. A backward stepwise multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association between HRV and synaptic plasticity biomarkers controlling for imbalances in the distribution of sociodemographic, clinical, neuroimaging, and neurosurgical variables. P-GluA1-Ser845 levels in AMY show a negative association (p < 0.05) with the 3 investigated parasympathetic autonomic HRV indices (SDNN, rMSSD, and HF) predicting 24 to 40% of their variation. The final multiple linear regression models include disease duration and levels of P-GluA1-Ser845 and predict 24 to 56% of cardiac autonomic tone variation (p < 0.01). P-GluA1-Ser845 levels in AMY and aHIP are negatively associated with the resting HRV in MTLE-HS indicating that increased synaptic efficiency in amygdala is associated with a parasympathetic cardiac autonomic tone impairment. The results suggest that specific changes in synaptic plasticity may be involved in the brain-heart axis regulation by the limbic system.

How predictable is cognitive performance in Brazilian patients with pharmacoresistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy?

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to investigate the independent association between clinical, demographic, psychiatric, radiologic, electrophysiological, and pharmacologic variables and cognitive performance of Brazilian patients with pharmacoresistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).

METHODS

Ninety-three patients with pharmacoresistant MTLE related to hippocampal sclerosis (HS) were included in the study. Multiple linear regressions were done to identify predictor variables for 24 cognitive tests. Independent variables analyzed were sex, hand dominance, age, years of education, marital status, work activity, history for an initial precipitant injury (IPI), family history of epilepsy, lesion side, antiseizure medication (ASM) treatment type, ASM serum levels, benzodiazepine (BDZ) treatment, age at epilepsy onset, disease duration, monthly frequency of seizures, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores.

RESULTS

Years of education was an independent and positive predictor in 22 of the 24 cognitive tests evaluated. Male sex was also a positive predictor of one cognitive test. Variables negatively associated with cognitive performance were left side lesion (10 tests), disease duration (5 tests), polytherapy (3 tests), ASM serum levels (3 tests), and BDZ treatment or not working (1 test each). The regression model explained between 6% and 44% of the cognitive test scores variation.

SIGNIFICANCE

In Brazilian patients with pharmacoresistant MTLE-HS, up to 44% of cognitive test scores variation is predictable by clinical, demographic, psychiatric, radiologic, electrophysiology, and pharmacological variables. The identification of predictors of cognitive performance may be helpful for better planning of patient care.

Psychiatric Alterations after Previous Temporal Lobectomy: Report of Cases and Review

INTRODUCTION

Anterior temporal lobectomy (LTA) is a surgical procedure commonly used for the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy refractory to medical management, with high success rates in the control of seizures. However, an important association with psychiatric illnesses has been described that can alter the postoperative outcome in these patients.

METHODS

A series of 2 cases of patients who, despite successful crisis control, developed psychiatric complications in the postoperative period of anterior temporal lobectomy.

RESULTS

The cases included a male patient with no history of previous mental illness, who developed a major depressive episode in the postoperative period, and a female patient with previous psychosis who presented as a surgical complication exacerbation of psychosis, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric disorders can occur in postoperative temporal lobe epilepsy patients with or without a history of mental illness. The most frequent alterations reported are depression, anxiety, psychosis and personality disorders. The inclusion of psychiatric evaluations in the pre- and post-surgical protocols can lead to an improvement in the prognosis of the neurological and mental outcomes of the patients undergoing the intervention.

Amygdala levels of the GluA1 subunit of glutamate receptors and its phosphorylation state at serine 845 in the anterior hippocampus are biomarkers of ictal fear but not anxiety

Fear is a conscious state caused by exposure to real or imagined threats that trigger stress responses that affect the body and brain, particularly limbic structures. A sub-group of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy related to hippocampus sclerosis (MTLE-HS) have seizures with fear, which is called ictal fear (IF), due to epileptic activity within the brain defensive survival circuit structures. Synaptic transmission efficacy can be bi-directionally modified through potentiation (long-term potentiation (LTP)) or depression (long-term depression (LTD)) as well as the phosphorylation state of Ser831 and Ser845 sites at the GluA1 subunit of the glutamate AMPA receptors, which has been characterized as a critical event for this synaptic plasticity. In this study, GluA1 levels and the phosphorylation at Ser845 and Ser831 in the amygdala (AMY), anterior hippocampus (aHIP) and middle gyrus of temporal neocortex (CX) were determined with western blots and compared between MTLE-HS patients who were showing (n = 06) or not showing (n = 25) IF. Patients with IF had an 11% decrease of AMY levels of the GluA1 subunit (p = 0.05) and a 21.5% decrease of aHIP levels of P-GluA1-Ser845 (p = 0.009) compared to patients not showing IF. The observed associations were not related to imbalances in the distribution of other concomitant types of aura, demographic, clinical or neurosurgical variables. The lower levels of P-GluA1-Ser845 in the aHIP of patients with IF were not related to changes in the levels of the serine/threonine-protein phosphatase PP1-alpha catalytic subunit or protein kinase A activation. Taken together, the GluA1 subunit levels in AMY and P-GluA1-Ser845 levels in the aHIP show an overall accuracy of 89.3% (specificity 95.5% and sensitivity 66.7%) to predict the presence of IF. AMY levels of the GluA1 subunit and aHIP levels of P-GluA1-Ser845 were not associated with the psychiatric diagnosis and symptoms of patients. Taken together with previous findings in MTLE-HS patients with IF who were evaluated by stereotactic implanted depth electrodes, we speculate our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that AMY is not a centre of fear but together with other sub-cortical and cortical structures integrates the defensive circuit that detect and respond to threats. This is the first report to address neuroplasticity features in human limbic structures connected to the defensive survival circuits, which has implications for the comprehension of highly prevalent psychiatric disorders and symptoms.

Effects of a brief psychotherapeutic intervention on resilience and behavior in patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and late seizure recurrence after surgery

Seizure recurrence (SR) after epilepsy surgery in patients with medically resistant temporal lobe epilepsy and mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE-MTS) can compromise medical treatment and quality of life (QOL). However, there is a scarcity of interventions specifically addressing this issue in the literature. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a four-week psychotherapeutic intervention on the levels of resilience, behavioral symptoms, and QOL of patients with drug-resistant TLE-MTS who underwent corticoamygdalohippocampectomy (CAH) and who presented with late SR. Fifty patients who had been diagnosed with TLE-TMS, undergone CAH, and presented with late SR were included. The study instruments included a clinical and sociodemographic questionnaire and the Brazilian versions of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), the Interictal Dysphoric Disorder Inventory (IDDI), and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). Significant reductions in the IDDI (p < 0.001) and NDDI-E (p < 0.001) scores, improvements in the CD-RISC-10 (p < 0.001) and QOLIE-31 (p < 0.001) scores, and positive correlations between resilience levels and QOL (p < 0.01), as well as a negative correlation between depressive symptoms and resilience (p < 0.01) and QOL (p < 0.01), were observed after the psychotherapeutic intervention. Improvements in the resilience levels and QOL, with concomitant reductions in depressive symptoms, were observed in patients with TLE-MTS and late SR after a brief psychotherapeutic intervention. Since there is a lack of studies that measured the impact of interventions in this patient subpopulation, these results may support the development of treatment strategies for this specific group.

Psychiatric disorders as predictors of epilepsy surgery outcome

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to determine if a history of a mental disorder predicts a worst neurological outcome for patients undergoing epilepsy surgery.

METHODS

We conducted an ambispective observational study including people with refractory epilepsy who underwent resective surgery. Demographic, psychiatric, and neurological data were collected, before and one year after surgery. Presurgical interviews included a psychiatric evaluation and the determination of prevalent and lifetime psychiatric diagnosis. The one-year postsurgical outcome was classified according to the Engel Outcome Scale. Predictors of postsurgical Engel class were determined using an ordered logistic regression model.

RESULTS

A lifetime history of any mental disorder was a significant predictor of a higher Engel Class (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that psychiatric lifetime diagnoses are associated with worse surgical outcome and highlighted the importance of the inclusion of these diagnoses in the evaluation of the potential success of the surgery.

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale (HADS-A) and The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) accuracy for anxiety disorders detection in drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy patients

BACKGROUND

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) is the most prevalent type of surgically remediable epilepsy and highly associated with psychiatric comorbidities. This study aimed to evaluate Hospital anxiety and depression scale-anxiety subscale (HADS-A) and The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait subscale (STAI-T) accuracy for detection of anxiety disorders in patients with drug-resistant MTLE-HS.

METHODS

One hundred three consecutive patients with drug-resistant MTLE-HS were enrolled. Diagnosis was based on the anamnesis, neurological examination, video-electroencephalogram (VEEG) analyses, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Psychiatric interviews were based on DSM-IV-TR criteria and ILAE Commission of Psychobiology classification as a gold standard; HADS-A and STAI-T were used as psychometric diagnostic tests, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal threshold scores.

RESULTS

The areas under the curve (AUCs) were higher than 0.7 (0.6-0.8) for both scales. The STAI-T cutoff point of ˃53 and the HADS-A cutoff point of ˃7 showed both around of 80% (44.4-97.7) sensitivity and 80% (66.9-86.9) and 60% (46.5-68.6) of specificity, respectively. In this sample the prevalence of anxiety disorders was 11.7% and both scales showed a high negative predictive value such as 96% (87.1-99.0) but low positive predictive value such as 30% (22.1-45.2) and 20% (15.0-27.2) respectively.

LIMITATIONS

The small number of cases in the diagnostic population; the results are only applied to drug resistant MTLE-HS; the psychiatric diagnosis were not based on a structured psychiatric interview; possible observer bias in 7 illiterate patients; the antidepressant treatment was not controlled.

CONCLUSIONS

In MTLE-HS, STAI-T and HADS-A had a similar and low positive predictive value and high negative predictive value. The implications for the HADS-A and STAI-T usefulness for anxiety disorders screening in patients with other epilepsies types deserve further investigations. If replicated in other populations, these findings may have important relevance for the presurgical screening of anxiety disorders in MTLE-HS patients who are candidates to epilepsy surgery.

[Prognosis for surgical treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy: the role of mental and cognitive disorders]

This review focuses on the role of mental and cognitive disorders in the prognosis for surgical treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy. The authors analyze historical aspects of the surgical treatment of epilepsy and present current data on the prognosis of operative intervention with respect to seizure control, cognitive functioning, and psychiatric disorders. The psychiatrist's role in the structure of preoperative and postoperative management of patients is considered.

Presurgical depression and anxiety are not associated with worse epilepsy surgery outcome five years postoperatively

PURPOSE

Anxiety and depression have been associated with poor seizure control after epilepsy surgery. This study explored the effect of presurgical anxiety or depression on two- and five-year seizure control outcomes.

METHODS

Adult subjects were enrolled between 1996 and 2001 in a multicenter prospective study to evaluate outcomes of resective epilepsy surgery. A Poisson regression was used to analyze the association of depression and anxiety with surgical outcome, while adjusting for gender, age, ethnicity, number of years with seizures, and presence of mesial temporal sclerosis.

RESULTS

The relative risk (RR) of presurgical depression on two-year seizure-free outcome in this cohort is 1.12 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.84-1.49) and 1.06 (CI, 0.73-1.55) on five-year seizure free outcome. The RR of presurgical anxiety on two-year seizure outcome is 0.73 (CI, 0.50-1.07) and 0.70 (CI, 0.43-1.17) on five-year seizure outcome. When including Engel classes I and II, the RRs of presurgical depression, anxiety, or both two years after surgery were 0.96 (p=0.59), 0.73 (p<0.05), and 0.97 (p=0.70), respectively, and they were 0.97 (p=0.82), 0.84 (p=0.32), and 0.89 (p=0.15), respectively, five years after surgery. Only presurgical anxiety was associated with worse epilepsy surgery outcome two year after surgery but not at five years postsurgery. Depression was not a risk factor for poor epilepsy surgical outcome in the long term.

CONCLUSION

These findings from a prospective study that utilized a standardized protocol for psychiatric and seizure outcome assessment suggest that presurgical mood disorders have no substantial impact on postsurgical seizure outcome for up to five years after surgery.

Neuropsychological functioning and brain energetics of drug resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy patients

Interictal hypometabolism is commonly measured by 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) in the temporal lobe of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE-HS). Left temporal lobe interictal FDG-PET hypometabolism has been associated with verbal memory impairment, while right temporal lobe FDG-PET hypometabolism is associated with nonverbal memory impairment. The biochemical mechanisms involved in these findings remain unknown. In comparison to healthy controls (n=21), surgically treated patients with MTLE-HS (n=32, left side=17) had significant lower scores in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT retention and delayed), Logical Memory II (LMII), Boston Naming test (BNT), Letter Fluency and Category Fluency. We investigated whether enzymatic activities of the mitochondrial enzymes Complex I (C I), Complex II (C II), Complex IV (C IV) and Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH) from the resected samples of the middle temporal neocortex (mTCx), amygdala (AMY) and hippocampus (HIP) were associated with performance in the RAVLT, LMII, BNT and fluency tests of our patients. After controlling for the side of hippocampus sclerosis, years of education, disease duration, antiepileptic treatment and seizure outcome after surgery, no independent associations were observed between the cognitive test scores and the analyzed mitochondrial enzymatic activities (p>0.37). Results indicate that memory and language impairment observed in MTLE-HS patients are not strongly associated with the levels of mitochondrial CI, CII, SDH and C IV enzymatic activities in the temporal lobe structures ipsilateral to the HS lesion.

Decline in word-finding: The objective cognitive finding most relevant to patients after mesial temporal lobe epilepsy surgery

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the following: i) the objective impairment in neuropsychological tests that were associated with the subjective perception of cognitive function decline in Brazilian patients who underwent mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) surgery and ii) the predictive variables for those impaired objective neuropsychological tests.

METHODS

Forty-eight adults with MTLE (27 right HS and 23 male) were divided according to their perception of changes (Decline or No-decline) of cognitive function domain of the QOLIE-31 questionnaire applied before and 1year after the ATL. The mean (SD) of changes in the raw score difference of the neuropsychological tests before and after the ATL was compared between Decline and No-decline groups. Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were used to assess the optimum cutoff points of neuropsychological test score changes to predict patient-reported subjective cognitive decline.

KEY FINDINGS

Six (12.5%) patients reported a perception of cognitive function decline after ATL. Among the 25 cognitive tests analyzed, only changes in the Boston Naming Test (BNT) were associated with subjective cognitive decline reported by patients. A reduction of ≥8 points in the raw score of BNT after surgery had 91% of sensitivity and 45% specificity for predicting subjective perception of cognitive function decline by the patient. Left side surgery and age older than 40years were more associated with an important BNT reduction with overall accuracy of 91.7%, 95% predictive ability for no impairment, and 75% for impairment of cognitive function.

SIGNIFICANCE

Impairment in word-finding seems to be the objective cognitive finding most relevant to Brazilian patients after mesial temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Similar to American patients, the side of surgery and age are good predictors for no decline in the BNT, but shows a lower accuracy to predict its decline. If replicated in other populations, the results may have wider implications for the surgical management of patients with drug-resistant MTLE.

Anxiety and depressive disorders in people with epilepsy: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders in people with epilepsy (PWE) are highly prevalent and associated with various adverse outcomes. However, the prevalence of anxiety disorders in PWE across studies is highly variable. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence and moderating factors of anxiety and depressive disorders in PWE.

METHODS

Following prospective registration (PROSPERO; CRD42015027101), electronic databases were searched for studies that reported the prevalence of both anxiety and depressive disorders in samples of PWE up until July 2016. Data extracted included the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders, and moderators of interest (e.g., method of diagnosis, prevalence of drug-resistant epilepsy). Meta-analysis of the overall pooled prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders was conducted.

RESULTS

The search yielded 8,636 unique articles, with 27 studies meeting final inclusion criteria (3,221 PWE). The pooled prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders was 20.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.3-26.0%) and 22.9% (95% CI 18.2-28.4%), respectively. Method of diagnosis significantly moderated anxiety disorder prevalence (Q statistic with one degree of freedom [Q₁ ] = 36.29, p < 0.0001); the prevalence of anxiety disorders based on unstructured clinician assessment was 8.1% (95% CI 5.7-11.4%), compared to a prevalence of 27.3% (95% CI 22.1-33.3%) based on a structured clinical interview. There were no significant moderators of depressive disorder diagnosis.

SIGNIFICANCE

Findings suggest the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in PWE are equivalent, and variability in prevalence of anxiety disorders across studies can be attributed partly to the method of diagnosis. These findings also challenge widely held assumptions that psychiatric comorbidity is more common in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. Future research should aim to improve the detection and management of these comorbidities in PWE, particularly anxiety disorders, which have remained relatively neglected.

Psychiatric lifetime diagnoses are associated with a reduced chance of seizure freedom after temporal lobe surgery

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether psychiatric comorbidity is a predictor of long-term seizure outcome following temporal lobe epilepsy surgery.

METHODS

A sample of 434 adult patients who received temporal lobe resection to treat epilepsy between 1991 and 2009 and were psychiatrically assessed before surgery were followed for 2 years to assess seizure outcome. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the impact of psychiatric variables on complete seizure freedom (Engel class IA), and freedom from disabling seizures (Engel class I). Lifetime histories of three psychiatric syndromes (PS: psychosis; depression; other) and five personality disorders (PD: DSM-IV Clusters A, B, and C; organic personality disorder; other) were considered as predictors, complemented by age at onset, duration of epilepsy, type of lesion (mesiotemporal sclerosis vs. other), and year of surgery.

RESULTS

Seizure-freedom rates were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with no history of PS or PD (N = 138; Engel class IA: 61.6%; Engel class I: 87.7%) than in those with any PS or PD (N = 296; Engel class IA: 39.5%; Engel class I: 58.8%). Particularly low seizure-freedom rates were found in patients with a diagnosis of psychosis (N = 32, Engel class IA: 21.9%; Engel class I: 40.6%), organic PD (N = 48, Engel class IA: 25.0%; Engel class I: 35.4%) or a double diagnosis of PS plus PD (N = 97; Engel class IA: 27.8%; Engel class I: 45.5%). No other variables emerged as significant risk factors in multivariate logistic regression analyses.

SIGNIFICANCE

Patients with and without psychiatric comorbidities can benefit from temporal lobe epilepsy surgery; however, psychiatric comorbidities are negatively associated with postoperative seizure-freedom rates. Surgical outcome is related to the type and extent of preoperative psychiatric morbidity, which underscores the prognostic value of presurgical psychiatric evaluation. The data support the argument that there are common pathogenetic mechanisms underlying both epilepsy and psychiatric conditions.

Predictors of meaningful improvement in quality of life after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery: A prospective study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate prospectively the independent predictors of a minimum clinically important change (MCIC) in quality of life (QOL) after anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy related to hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) in Brazilian patients.

METHODS

Multiple binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the clinical, demographic, radiologic, and electrophysiologic variables independently associated with MCIC in the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 Inventory (QOLIE-31) overall score 1 year after ATL in 77 consecutive patients with unilateral MTLE-HS.

RESULTS

The overall QOLIE-31 score and all its subscale scores increased significantly (p < 0.0001) 1 year after ATL. In the final logistic regression model, absence of presurgical diagnosis of depression (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-16.1, p = 0.02) and a complete postoperative seizure control (adjusted OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.2-14.5, p = 0.03) were independently associated with improvement equal to or greater than the MCIC in QOL after ATL. The overall model accuracy for MCIC improvement in the QOL was 85.6%, with a 95.2% of sensitivity and 46.7% of specificity.

SIGNIFICANCE

These results in Brazilian patients reinforce the external validation of previous findings in Canadian patients showing that presurgical depression and complete seizure control after surgery are independent predictors for meaningful improvement in QOL after ATL, and have implications for the surgical management of MTLE patients.

A single high dose of dexamethasone affects the phosphorylation state of glutamate AMPA receptors in the human limbic system

Glucocorticoids (GC) released during stress response exert feedforward effects in the whole brain, but particularly in the limbic circuits that modulates cognition, emotion and behavior. GC are the most commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant medication worldwide and pharmacological GC treatment has been paralleled by the high incidence of acute and chronic neuropsychiatric side effects, which reinforces the brain sensitivity for GC. Synapses can be bi-directionally modifiable via potentiation (long-term potentiation, LTP) or depotentiation (long-term depression, LTD) of synaptic transmission efficacy, and the phosphorylation state of Ser831 and Ser845 sites, in the GluA1 subunit of the glutamate AMPA receptors, are a critical event for these synaptic neuroplasticity events. Through a quasi-randomized controlled study, we show that a single high dexamethasone dose significantly reduces in a dose-dependent manner the levels of GluA1-Ser831 phosphorylation in the amygdala resected during surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy. This is the first report demonstrating GC effects on key markers of synaptic neuroplasticity in the human limbic system. The results contribute to understanding how GC affects the human brain under physiologic and pharmacologic conditions.

Anxiety disorders in people with epilepsy

Anxiety disorders are frequent, though probably underdiagnosed, comorbidities in epilepsy. Epilepsy and anxiety may share common neurobiological correlates as shown in animal models and suggested by studies demonstrating anxiety disorders before the manifestation of epilepsy. Comorbid anxiety disorders have a major impact on the affected patients' quality of life and may increase the risk for suicidality. Successful treatment of the epilepsy may alleviate anxiety symptoms. Treatment of anxiety is based on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, benzodiazepines (although only as second-line choices), and psychotherapy. Specific AEDs (especially pregabalin) have been shown to have anxiolytic properties. This paper is aimed at reviewing anxiety disorders in patients with epilepsy discussing current scientific evidence about pathophysiology, clinical aspects, and treatment strategies.

Mitochondrial Respiration Chain Enzymatic Activities in the Human Brain: Methodological Implications for Tissue Sampling and Storage

Mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes enzymatic (MRCCE) activities were successfully evaluated in frozen brain samples. Epilepsy surgery offers an ethical opportunity to study human brain tissue surgically removed to treat drug resistant epilepsies. Epilepsy surgeries are done with hemodynamic and laboratory parameters to maintain physiology, but there are no studies analyzing the association among these parameters and MRCCE activities in the human brain tissue. We determined the intra-operative parameters independently associated with MRCCE activities in middle temporal neocortex (Cx), amygdala (AMY) and head of hippocampus (HIP) samples of patients (n = 23) who underwent temporal lobectomy using multiple linear regressions. MRCCE activities in Cx, AMY and HIP are differentially associated to trans-operative mean arterial blood pressure, O2 saturation, hemoglobin, and anesthesia duration to time of tissue sampling. The time-course between the last seizure occurrence and tissue sampling as well as the sample storage to biochemical assessments were also associated with enzyme activities. Linear regression models including these variables explain 13-17 % of MRCCE activities and show a moderate to strong effect (r = 0.37-0.82). Intraoperative hemodynamic and laboratory parameters as well as the time from last seizure to tissue sampling and storage time are associated with MRCCE activities in human samples from the Cx, AMYG and HIP. Careful control of these parameters is required to minimize confounding biases in studies using human brain samples collected from elective neurosurgery.

Validation of diagnostic tests for depressive disorder in drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale (HADS-D) as diagnostic tests for depressive disorder in drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS).

METHODS

One hundred three patients with drug-resistant MTLE-HS were enrolled. All patients underwent a neurological examination, interictal and ictal video-electroencephalogram (V-EEG) analyses, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Psychiatric interviews were based on DSM-IV-TR criteria and ILAE Commission of Psychobiology classification as a gold standard; HRSD, BDI, HADS, and HADS-D were used as psychometric diagnostic tests, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal threshold scores.

RESULTS

For all the scales, the areas under the curve (AUCs) were approximately 0.8, and they were able to identify depression in this sample. A threshold of ≥9 on the HRSD and a threshold of ≥8 on the HADS-D showed a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 80%. A threshold of ≥19 on the BDI and HADS-D total showed a sensitivity of 55% and a specificity of approximately 90%. The instruments showed a negative predictive value of approximately 87% and a positive predictive value of approximately 65% for the BDI and HADS total and approximately 60% for the HRSD and HADS-D.

CONCLUSIONS

HRSD≥9 and HADS-D≥8 had the best balance between sensitivity (approximately 70%) and specificity (approximately 80%). However, with these thresholds, these diagnostic tests do not appear useful in identifying depressive disorder in this population with epilepsy, and their specificity (approximately 80%) and PPV (approximately 55%) were lower than those of the other scales. We believe that the BDI and HADS total are valid diagnostic tests for depressive disorder in patients with MTLE-HS, as both scales showed acceptable (though not high) specificity and PPV for this type of study.

Temporal lobe epilepsy and affective disorders: the role of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex

OBJECTIVE

Reduced deactivation within the default mode network (DMN) is common in individuals with primary affective disorders relative to healthy volunteers (HVs). It is unknown whether similar network abnormalities are present in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients with a history of affective psychopathology.

METHODS

17 TLE patients with a lifetime affective diagnosis, 31 TLE patients with no formal psychiatric history and 30 HVs were included. We used a visuo-spatial 'n-back' paradigm to compare working memory (WM) network activation between these groups. Post hoc analyses included voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging. The Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen and Beck Anxiety Inventory were completed on the day of scanning.

FINDINGS

Each group activated the fronto-parietal WM networks and deactivated the typical DMN in response to increasing task demands. Group comparison revealed that TLE patients with lifetime affective morbidity showed significantly greater deactivation in subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sACC) than either the TLE-only or the HVs (p<0.001). This effect persisted after covarying for current psychotropic medication and severity of current depressive/anxiety symptoms (all p<0.001). Correlational analysis revealed that this finding was not driven by differences in task performance. There were no significant differences in grey matter volume or structural connectivity between the TLE groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide novel evidence suggesting that affective psychopathology in TLE has a neurobiological correlate, and in this context the sACC performs differently compared with network activity in primary affective disorders.

Clinical predictors of 2-year outcome of resective epilepsy surgery in adults with refractory epilepsy: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Resective epilepsy surgery is currently a standard treatment for intractable epilepsy. Seizure freedom and discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs are the ultimate goals of epilepsy treatment. This study was carried out to delineate (1) possible differences in the success rate of epilepsy surgery 6 and 24 months after surgery; and (2) the clinical predictors of a good response to surgery.

SETTING

This is a cohort study performed at a tertiary care unit of a university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

In this cohort study, 189 adults with intractable epilepsy who underwent epilepsy surgery were included. We collected clinical data at three time points, that is, preoperative and 6 and 24 months after surgery.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Engel class I-IV classification was the primary outcome measure of epilepsy surgery. The authors statistically adjusted Engel class I-IV classification for postoperative changes in antiepileptic drugs and used this new classification as a secondary outcome variable.

RESULTS

The success rate was 78.8% 6 months after surgery and increased to 88.3% 24 months after surgery. This success rate was reflected not only by the reduced number of seizures postsurgery, but also by a reduced dosage and use of antiepileptic drugs. Logistic regression analysis showed that a successful outcome of surgery is predicted by having temporal rather than extratemporal lobe epilepsy and less than nine presurgery seizures per month, while a positive familial history of epilepsy, younger age and dysphoric symptoms, the first 3 months after surgery, significantly worsened the outcome of surgery. Duration of illness, age at onset, epilepsy location, type of lesions and the presence of psychosis were not significant in predicting treatment outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings have clinical relevance in that a better selection of patients based on the significant clinical predictors will increase the success rate of epilepsy surgery and treatment.

[Epilepsy surgery--assessment and patient selection]

BACKGROUND

Considerable progress in diagnostic imaging and video EEG monitoring has improved the possibilities of localising the epileptogenic zone of the brain in patients with epilepsy. Despite the fact that epilepsy surgery can therefore be offered to more patients today than previously, relatively few patients are referred for an assessment for surgery. The aim of this review is to provide a brief account of the patient selection procedures and the investigations prior to epilepsy surgery.

METHOD

The review is based on a literature search in PubMed and the personal experiences of the authors in this field.

RESULTS

If the epilepsy does not respond to any kind of pharmacological treatment, and idiopathic generalised epilepsy and pseudoresistance have been ruled out, the patient should be evaluated for surgery. The evaluation is multidisciplinary, and the aim is to localise the epileptogenic zone, which can be identified by both structural and functional abnormalities. It must be determined before the operation whether the zone can be removed without leaving severe neurological or cognitive impairment. The best results after epilepsy surgery are seen in patients with a morphological substrate, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy associated with hippocampal sclerosis.

INTERPRETATION

Epilepsy surgery plays an ever more important role in the treatment of patients with drug resistant seizures. Doctors who treat epileptic patients should refer candidates for surgery at an early stage of the disease.

Neural correlates of de novo depression following left temporal lobe epilepsy surgery: a voxel based morphometry study of pre-surgical structural MRI

PURPOSE

To investigate cerebral grey matter (GM) volumetric abnormalities in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients who develop de novo depression following TLE surgery using voxel-based morphometry (VBM).

METHODS

We retrospectively examined pre-surgical grey matter (GM) volumes in 30 patients with TLE due to unilateral left-sided hippocampal sclerosis using 1.5-T MRI scan, which were segmented with optimised VBM parameters and normalised to a sample template using DARTEL, with SPM8 software. Voxel-wise GM differences between patients that developed de novo post-surgical depression (n=5) were compared with patients with no pre- or postoperative psychiatric diagnoses (n=25), using independent samples t-tests with age, gender and secondary generalised tonic-clonic seizures (SGTCS) as covariates (p<.001, unc).

KEY FINDINGS

Reduced preoperative bilateral GM in orbitofrontal cortices (OFC) and ipsilateral cingulate gyrus and thalamus were significantly associated with the development of de novo depression within 4 years postoperatively. Further analyses revealed no differences in seizure freedom (ILAE 1 vs 2-6) or postoperative memory decline between the groups.

SIGNIFICANCE

Although the development of postoperative de novo depression following TLE surgery is likely to be multi-factorial, our results suggest that bilateral OFC and ipsilateral cingulate gyrus and thalamic atrophy in left-sided TLE patients may play a modulatory role. Abnormalities in these areas have also been implicated in primary mood disorders. Prospective neuroimaging studies with larger cohorts are warranted to replicate these results, and further elucidate the neural correlates of de novo depression.

Pathophysiology of mood disorders in temporal lobe epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

There is accumulating evidence that the limbic system is pathologically involved in cases of psychiatric comorbidities in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients. Our objective was to develop a conceptual framework describing how neuropathological, neurochemical and electrophysiological aspects might contribute to the development of psychiatric symptoms in TLE and the putative neurobiological mechanisms that cause mood disorders in this patient subgroup.

METHODS

In this review, clinical, experimental and neuropathological findings, as well as neurochemical features of the limbic system were examined together to enhance our understanding of the association between TLE and psychiatric comorbidities. Finally, the value of animal models in epilepsy and mood disorders was discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

TLE and psychiatric symptoms coexist more frequently than chance would predict. Alterations and neurotransmission disturbance among critical anatomical networks, and impaired or aberrant plastic changes might predispose patients with TLE to mood disorders. Clinical and experimental studies of the effects of seizures on behavior and electrophysiological patterns may offer a model of how limbic seizures increase the vulnerability of TLE patients to precipitants of psychiatric symptoms.

Are psychiatric disorders exclusion criteria for video-EEG monitoring and epilepsy surgery in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis?

Epilepsy surgery (ES) is a treatment option for patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, psychiatric disorders (PDs) have been a contraindication for presurgical evaluation in many epilepsy centers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of video-EEG (VEEG) and surgical outcome in patients with refractory TLE and mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE-MTS) associated with PDs. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, sociodemographic, and VEEG data and surgery outcome of patients with refractory TLE-MTS who underwent ES over the period of 2002 to 2011 and compared data between those with and without PDs. Psychiatric evaluation was performed through DSM-IV and ILAE criteria. Safety during presurgical evaluation was analyzed by the rate of adverse events (AEs). Patients' quality of life (QOL) was measured through ESI-55 and the surgical outcome through Engel's classification. Data from 145 patients were included. The mean VEEG length (93h) was not affected by PDs. Among patients with PDs, 4.91% (3/61) had AEs, and 13.11% (8/61) had psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs). Among patients without PDs, 4.76% (4/84) had AEs, and 5.95% (5/84) had PNESs. In the first two follow-up years, of the 94 patients who underwent ES, 65.85% (27/41) with PDs and 67.92% (36/53) without PDs became free of disabling seizures (Engel I). No significant differences were observed in the patients' QOL between both groups after surgery. The rate of AEs and seizure outcome did not differ significantly between both groups, reinforcing the idea that PDs should not be absolute exclusion criteria for VEEG monitoring and epilepsy surgery among patients with TLE-MTS.

Predicting and preventing psychopathology following temporal lobe epilepsy surgery

Less than 3% of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) surgical outcome studies have investigated the psychiatric sequelae and morbidity associated with surgery. This is disproportionate to the extent of the problem. Variable prevalence rates have been reported for post-surgical depression, anxiety, and interictal psychosis. Until recently, very few studies distinguished de novo postoperative presentations from pre-existing conditions, making it difficult to accurately assess the impact of TLE surgery on psychiatric morbidity. Predictors of de novo postoperative presentations have proved elusive. This current review summarizes the findings from a systematic literature review of the psychiatric morbidity associated with TLE surgery including newly published follow-up data from our own series of 280 surgical patients. A framework for future research, possible pathophysiological mechanisms, and translational models are also discussed.

Preoperative depressive symptoms are not predictors of postoperative seizure control in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis

Retrospective data analysis was performed in a sample of 45 consecutive patients who underwent epilepsy surgery for medically refractory mTLE-HS. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used preoperatively to detect actual depressive symptoms and label patients into those "with depressive symptoms" or "without depressive symptoms". Postoperative seizure outcome one, two, and three years after surgery was classified into "complete seizure freedom" versus "presence of auras and/or seizures". Postoperative seizure outcomes were compared in patients with and without depressive symptoms, and no significant difference of postoperative seizure outcome was found. However, there was a non-significant trend for patients with preoperative depressive symptoms to experience a postoperative running down phenomenon more frequently than nondepressed patients. Depressive symptoms, identified by the BDI, do not seem to have a predictive value for postoperative seizure outcome in this highly selected patient population with mTLE-HS, but may be positive predictors for experiencing a postoperative running down phenomenon.

Psychiatric comorbidity in refractory focal epilepsy: a study of 490 patients

We studied the prevalence and associated factors of psychiatric comorbidities in 490 patients with refractory focal epilepsy. Of these, 198 (40.4%) patients had psychiatric comorbidity. An Axis I diagnosis was made in 154 patients (31.4%) and an Axis II diagnosis (personality disorder) in another 44 (8.97%) patients. After logistic regression, positive family history of psychiatric comorbidities (O.R.=1.98; 95% CI=1.10-3.58; p=0.023), the presence of Axis II psychiatric comorbidities (O.R.=3.25; 95% CI=1.70-6.22; p<0.0001), and the epileptogenic zone located in mesial temporal lobe structures (O.R.=1.94; 95% CI=1.25-3.03; p=0.003) remained associated with Axis I psychiatric comorbidities. We concluded that a combination of clinical variables and selected structural abnormalities of the central nervous system contributes to the development of psychiatric comorbidities in patients with focal epilepsy.