Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is frequently associated with comorbid psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric comorbidities, including depression, psychosis, and functional/dissociative disorders, are very frequently observed among patients admitted to Epilepsy Centers. However, a psychiatric assessment is not mandatory in many centers and these comorbidities may be underdiagnosed and undertreated. Epilepsy patients have a high prevalence of psychiatric conditions and the correct treatment of them significantly improves the evolution of both mental and neurological health.
The goal of this Research Topic is to guide and inform mental health professionals about the most frequent psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy, with the aim to speed up the diagnosis, apply the correct treatment and improve the evolution of the patient’s state. We welcome research carried out using different diagnostic techniques (imaging methods, connectivity, surveys, etc) and therapeutic techniques (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) to improve the quality of life of these patients. The scope is aimed toward presenting classical comorbidities, the most frequent ones in the context of a patient with epilepsy, and their possible interactions with antiepileptic drugs. The use of cannabinoids for treating epilepsy, is also an interesting point to research, regarding psychiatric aspects of epilepsy in patients with psychiatric comorbidities.
Topics of interest include: Psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy. Ictal, postictal, and interictal psychosis. Forced normalization and psychosis. Depression and epilepsy, the role of the temporal lobe and hippocampus. Neurogenesis and epilepsy. Use of antidepressants in epilepsy. Use of antipsychotics in epilepsy. Differential diagnosis with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (Functional dissociative seizures). Classification and Management of functional dissociative seizures.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is frequently associated with comorbid psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric comorbidities, including depression, psychosis, and functional/dissociative disorders, are very frequently observed among patients admitted to Epilepsy Centers. However, a psychiatric assessment is not mandatory in many centers and these comorbidities may be underdiagnosed and undertreated. Epilepsy patients have a high prevalence of psychiatric conditions and the correct treatment of them significantly improves the evolution of both mental and neurological health.
The goal of this Research Topic is to guide and inform mental health professionals about the most frequent psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy, with the aim to speed up the diagnosis, apply the correct treatment and improve the evolution of the patient’s state. We welcome research carried out using different diagnostic techniques (imaging methods, connectivity, surveys, etc) and therapeutic techniques (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) to improve the quality of life of these patients. The scope is aimed toward presenting classical comorbidities, the most frequent ones in the context of a patient with epilepsy, and their possible interactions with antiepileptic drugs. The use of cannabinoids for treating epilepsy, is also an interesting point to research, regarding psychiatric aspects of epilepsy in patients with psychiatric comorbidities.
Topics of interest include: Psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy. Ictal, postictal, and interictal psychosis. Forced normalization and psychosis. Depression and epilepsy, the role of the temporal lobe and hippocampus. Neurogenesis and epilepsy. Use of antidepressants in epilepsy. Use of antipsychotics in epilepsy. Differential diagnosis with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (Functional dissociative seizures). Classification and Management of functional dissociative seizures.