HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Devinsky, O. Articles by Theodore, W. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Devinsky, O. Articles by Theodore, W. H.

Dissociative states and epilepsy

Clinical Epilepsy Section, Medical Neurology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (Drs. Devinsky, Bromfield, and Theodore)
Unit on Dissociative Disorders, Laboratory of Developmental Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD (Dr. Putnam)
Unit of Cognitive Neuroscience, Medical Neurology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (Dr. Grafman).

Since symptoms of chronic dissociative disorders such as multiple personality disorder (MPD) may be shared by patients with seizure disorders, we investigated the possible relationship between dissociative states and epilepsy. We monitored 6 MPD patients with intensive video-EEG recordings to determine whether epileptic phenomena have any correlation to the dissociative symptoms experienced by these patients. Previously, physicians had diagnosed epilepsy in all 6 patients; however, none proved to have epilepsy. In addition, we studied dissociative symptoms in 71 epileptic patients with the aid of a standardized questionnaire, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, and compared them with age-matched controls. While the group median score of cases with complex partial seizures was higher than that of normal controls, it was significantly lower than that of the psychiatric patients with MPD. Partial seizure patients with dominant hemisphere foci had higher depersonalization subscale scores than those with nondominant foci. Our data suggest that epilepsy is not a primary pathophysiologic mechanism for developing dissociative symptoms.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Devinsky, Dept. of Neurosciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 185 S. Orange Ave., Newark, NJ 07103.

Received November 7, 1988. Accepted for publication in final form December 30, 1988.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Mula, A. Cavanna, L. Collimedaglia, D. Barbagli, E. Magli, and F. Monaco The Role of Aura in Psychopathology and Dissociative Experiences in Epilepsy J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, November 1, 2006; 18(4): 536 - 542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. V. Lambert, M. Sierra, M. L. Phillips, and A. S. David The Spectrum of Organic Depersonalization: A Review Plus Four New Cases J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, May 1, 2002; 14(2): 141 - 154. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Roca and T. W. Freeman Psychosensory Symptoms in Combat Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, May 1, 2002; 14(2): 185 - 189. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. A. Engel George L. Engel, M.D., 1913-1999: Remembering His Life and Work; Rediscovering His Soul Psychosomatics, April 1, 2001; 42(2): 94 - 99. [Full Text]

				S. SIMONETI, E. C. SCOTT, and C. M. MURPHY Dissociative Experiences in Partner-Assaultive Men J Interpers Violence, December 1, 2000; 15(12): 1262 - 1283. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Simeon, O. Guralnik, E. A. Hazlett, J. Spiegel-Cohen, E. Hollander, and M. S. Buchsbaum Feeling Unreal: A PET Study of Depersonalization Disorder Am J Psychiatry, November 1, 2000; 157(11): 1782 - 1788. [Abstract] [Full Text]