Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
September 1, 2010
A E Cavanna, S Cavanna, A Cavanna
42 citations
Epileptic seizures in Haiti are often misattributed to Voodoo spirit possession due to cultural beliefs. In four Haitian patients whose seizures were initially thought to be spirit possession, the seizures involved experiential phenomena such as epigastric aura, fear, depersonalization, and derealization, followed by loss of consciousness. Electroclinical tests showed a temporal lobe focus in each case. The article reviews how such traditional belief systems can delay proper diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, highlighting the harmful impact of these misconceptions in developing countries.
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
August 1, 2008
Mirja Johanson, Katja Valli, Antti Revonsuo et al.
19 citations
People with partial epilepsy experience widespread distortions in their subjective experience during seizures, yet the pattern of those distortions remains consistent from one seizure to the next. A standardized questionnaire called the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) proved suitable for capturing these changes in consciousness. The findings suggest that the PCI could help researchers and clinicians better understand the nature of phenomenal consciousness in epilepsy.
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
June 1, 2024
Kheng-Seang Lim, Si-Lei Fong, Xuen Yu et al.
6 citations
A 20-minute guided mindful breathing exercise, practiced twice a week for two weeks, improved depression symptoms and quality of life in people with epilepsy. In a pilot randomized controlled trial with 20 participants, those who performed the exercise showed significantly greater improvement in depression scores at two weeks compared to a waitlist control group, though this difference was no longer significant at four weeks. Anxiety improvements were not statistically significant. Quality of life scores were significantly better in the intervention group at both two and four weeks, and mindfulness scores improved at four weeks. The exercise had an immediate effect on depression and quality of life.
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
August 1, 2025
Qing Xue, Gregg H Rawlings, Steven C Schachter et al.
1 citation
Functional/dissociative seizures (FDS) involve a complex mix of symptoms spanning physical, emotional, autonomic, and cognitive domains, according to personal accounts from 75 authors with FDS. The most common symptom domain was consciousness, mentioned by 63 of 75 authors, particularly impaired awareness, self-control, and disconnection. Motor symptoms appeared in 58 narratives, including excessive, reduced, or mixed movements. Sensations such as pain were reported by 13 authors. Arousal symptoms, especially hyperarousal, appeared in 20 accounts. Emotional symptoms, particularly anxiety, were noted by 22 authors. Cognitive issues like foggy thinking and memory deficits were described in 14 writings. These detailed descriptions may aid earlier diagnosis.
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
February 3, 2026
Kairui Li, Hui Song, Chenxiao Zhao et al.
A simplified, app-based mindfulness program for people with epilepsy in mainland China was feasible and well-accepted. Ten adults completed a 6-week self-guided program (15 minutes daily, 6 days per week) via a WeChat mini-program. Completion rates averaged 110.1%, and user feedback was positive. Exploratory assessments suggested improvements in quality of life (median increase of 9.12 points on the QOLIE-31) and reductions in anxiety (median decrease of 5.50 points on the GAD-7). Seizure frequency descriptively decreased by a median of 1.17 seizures per 4 weeks, with half of participants experiencing at least a 50% reduction. These findings support planning a future randomized controlled trial.
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
January 22, 2026
Fredrik K Andersson, Bisrat Ezra, Kenney Roy Roodakker et al.
Seizure-related experiences with supernatural, religious, spiritual, mystical, or ecstatic features—termed 'numinous-like symptoms'—are not uncommon among epilepsy patients and those with insular tumors. In a survey of 200 epilepsy patients and 40 with resected insular tumors, 6.0% of epilepsy respondents and 8.7% of tumor respondents reported such symptoms. Interviews identified ecstatic seizures, out-of-body experiences, and sensed presence. Three sensed-presence patients had seizure origin in the right hemisphere. These phenomena are often underreported due to patient reluctance, but actively assessing them aids seizure evaluation and differential diagnosis. Neuroscientifically, ecstatic seizures and out-of-body experiences involve distinct nodes in self-processing networks, while sensed presence requires further analysis.
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B
March 1, 2025
Meiying Zhang, Liting Zheng, Jixing Chen et al.
Depression-like behavior in a mouse model of epilepsy does not appear immediately after a seizure but develops within one week and persists for over two weeks. This corresponds with a significant drop in hippocampal LRP4 expression one day after status epilepticus, which partially recovers but remains low through day 14. Treatment with (2R, 6R)-hydroxynorketamine ((2R, 6R)-HNK), a ketamine metabolite, alleviates depressive-like behaviors within one day and continues for up to seven days, while reducing LRP4 expression in hippocampal astrocytes initially and then increasing it within a week. Overexpressing LRP4 in hippocampal astrocytes accelerated the onset of depressive-like behaviors and blocked the antidepressant effects of (2R, 6R)-HNK, suggesting that (2R, 6R)-HNK alleviates postictal depression through stage-specific modulation of LRP4 in astrocytes.