The phenomenology of psychosis associated with complex partial seizure disorder.
Ann Clin Psychiatry March 1, 1997 Timothy Brewerton 11 citations
Psychosis resulting from complex partial seizure disorder (CPSD) is often misdiagnosed as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar illness, or psychotic depression. This organic mental disorder has distinct clinical features that can distinguish it from other psychoses. It responds to limbic anticonvulsants, with or without neuroleptics or lithium, but is generally refractory to neuroleptics alone. The author reviews literature on the clinical phenomenology and treatment of this topic and illustrates the clinical profiles of 10 treatment-refractory patients admitted to a state hospital with previously undiagnosed psychoses secondary to CPSD. This illness should be considered in the differential diagnosis of severely ill patients with atypical psychoses refractory to traditional treatments.