Personality correlates of sphenoidal EEG-foci in temporal lobe epilepsy

Abstract

Patients with unilateral temporal lateral or temporal mediobasal epileptic focus ascertained by sphenoidal electrode EEG recordings were evaluated using the questionnaire designed by Bear and Fedio. The 17 traits defined by the items in the questionnaire were also assessed by close observers in an equivalent questionnaire. Patients with medio-basal temporal lobe focus generally exhibited epileptic personality traits to a greater extent than patients with lateral focus. They also, more than patients with lateral focus, were characterized by a schizoid paranoid outlook. The patients with left temporal lobe focus were emotionally labile compared to patients with right temporal lobe focus. Patients with lateral right-sided temporal focus had the most benign psychological prognosis. The main discrepancies between the results of Bear and Fedio and the study are briefly discussed.