[Epilepsy and psychiatric disorders (epi-psy)].

EPILEPSY AND PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS (EPI-PSY). Epilepsy is not only a brain pathology characterized by a lasting predisposition to generate seizures, it is also associated with cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and social disorders. The interaction between psychiatric pathologies and epilepsy is bidirectional and complex.

Insights into Postictal Psychosis, from functional imaging and EEG: A systematic review.

Multiple hypotheses exist about the pathophysiology of Postictal Psychosis (PIP). As the clinical manifestations of PIP are roughly stereotyped, we assumed the existence of a common neurological pathway. This study aimed to determine if a specific brain network sustained the psychotic episode, regardless of the localization of the epileptogenic zone.

Anticipatory anxiety of seizures: What is the best treatment?

Anxiety disorders affect roughly 25% of people with epilepsy (PWE), and are associated with a strong impairment of quality of life and a poorer stabilization of epilepsy. Anticipatory anxiety of seizure (AAS), defined by the persistent worry or fear to have another seizure, is highly frequent and associated with avoidant behavior. Unfortunately, AAS is often overlooked and untreated.

Post-epileptic seizure posttraumatic stress Disorder: A mediation analysis.

Objective: Previous studies investigated the varying prevalence of post-epileptic seizure posttraumatic stress disorder (PS-PTSD). The current study aimed first to compare the profiles of patients with and without PS-PTSD and, second, to study the interaction between other past traumatic experiences, subjective ictal anxiety, psychiatric comorbidities, and PS-PTSD in people with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: We conducted an observational study, investigating past traumatic experiences and PS-PTSD through standardized scales (CTQ-28, LEC-5 and PCL-5).

A cross-sectional survey on French psychiatrists' knowledge and perceptions of dissociative identity disorder.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine French psychiatrists' level of general knowledge about dissociative identity disorder and to evaluate their perceptions of this condition.

Methods: In this study, French psychiatrists were invited by e-mail to answer an online survey. The questionnaire asked about their general knowledge and perceptions of dissociative identity disorder.

Anticipatory anxiety of seizures is associated with ictal emotional distress and amygdala onset seizures.

Objective: Anxiety disorders are a frequent psychiatric condition in patients with epilepsy. Anticipatory anxiety of seizures (AAS) is described as a daily persistent fear or excessive worry of having a seizure. AAS seems to be related to "subjective ictal anxiety" reported by patients.

Postictal psychosis, a cause of secondary affective psychosis: A clinical description study of 77 patients.

Objective: Postictal psychosis (PIP) is a severe complication occurring at least in 2% of patients with epilepsy. Since the 19th century, psychiatrists have reported the specificity of PIP presentation, but descriptions did not clearly distinguish PIP from after-seizure delirium. This study aimed to provide a precise description of psychiatric signs occurring during PIP, and improve recognition of PIP.

An international study of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on characteristics of functional seizures.

Objective: We investigated whether the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the clinical characteristics of patients with functional seizure (FS) (at the time of diagnosis) in a large multicenter international study.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. We investigated all patients with FS, who were admitted at the epilepsy monitoring units at six centers in the world: 1.

Functional (psychogenic non-epileptic/dissociative) seizures: why and how?

Functional seizures (FS) known also as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures or dissociative seizures, present with ictal semiological manifestations, along with various comorbid neurological and psychological disorders. Terminology inconsistencies and discrepancies in nomenclatures of FS may reflect limitations in understanding the neuropsychiatric intricacies of this disorder. Psychological and neurobiological processes of FS are incompletely understood.

Anxiety and Depression in Newly Diagnosed Epilepsy: A Matter of Psychological History?

Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent in patients with epilepsy (PWE), and these symptoms can even precede the onset of the pathology. We aimed to define the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms at the time of the epilepsy diagnosis and the factors related to their presence in newly diagnosed adult patients. One hundred and twelve newly diagnosed patients were assessed, usually in the week after diagnosis.

Past Trauma Is Associated With a Higher Risk of Experiencing an Epileptic Seizure as Traumatic in Patients With Pharmacoresistant Focal Epilepsy.

The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of traumatic experienced seizures (TES) and of postepileptic seizure PTSD (PS-PTSD) in patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy and to explore the determining factors of TES. We conducted an observational study enrolling 107 adult refractory epilepsy patients. We used the DSM-5 criteria of traumatic events and PTSD to define TES and PS-PTSD.

Working toward the ideal situation: A pragmatic Epi-Psy approach for the diagnosis and treatment of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.

Medical international guidelines recommend regular psychiatric consultations for patients with epilepsy, in order to detect comorbidities. However, there is a lack of guidance about PNES that constitute both a differential diagnosis and a comorbidity of epilepsy. While waiting for the ideal collaboration between neurologists and psychiatrists, we develop a pragmatic approach.

Social aspects of life in patients with functional (psychogenic nonepileptic) seizures: An international study.

Purpose: To explore various social aspects of life (i.e., employment, education, and driving) in a large sample of patients with functional seizures (FS) living in seven countries from four continents.

Marital status in patients with functional (psychogenic nonepileptic) seizures: An international study.

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the marital status in a cohort of patients with functional seizures from seven countries in four continents. Factors associated with marital status were also explored.

Methods: Adult patients with functional seizures who were admitted to the epilepsy monitoring units at centers in Iran, Qatar, USA, France, Georgia, Egypt, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) were retrospectively identified.

Skin conductance response and emotional response in women with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

Purpose: Recent etiopathogenic models place emotional dysregulation at the core of psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES). Our purpose was to assess physiological, cognitive, and behavioral emotional responses of PNES patients.

Methods: This study compared three types of emotional responses to visual emotional stimuli between 34 female PNES group and 34 matched healthy controls: physiological response measured by skin conductance response (SCR) (rate, amplitude and latency) and heart rate deceleration; cognitive response measured by valence and arousal elicited by the images; and behavioural response measured by latency of ratings.

Clinical characteristics of functional (psychogenic nonepileptic) seizures: An international retrospective study.

Purpose: We conducted a multicenter international cross-cultural comparative study to investigate clinical semiology and predisposing factors of functional seizures in a large cohort of patients living in different countries around the world. We hypothesized that semiology and predisposing factors of functional seizures differ between various world regions.

Methods: We conducted this retrospective observational study in adults with functional seizures admitted to epilepsy centers in Iran, Qatar, USA, France, Georgia, Egypt, and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Epileptic psychoses are underrecognized by French neurologists and psychiatrists.

This study evaluates the knowledge about psychotic disorders associated with epilepsy among medical practitioners in France. A self-report questionnaire was sent, and responses of 486 participants were collected. Results showed the rate of correct responses being higher among neurologists compared to psychiatrists, respectively 70.