Epilepsy and psychiatric symptoms Flashcards
What is the primary characteristic of schizophrenia?
Continuous symptoms
Schizophrenia is classified as a primary psychiatric illness.
What distinguishes epilepsy-related psychosis from schizophrenia?
It is secondary to seizure activity
Epilepsy-related psychosis often occurs in peri-ictal phases.
How can EEG assist in diagnosing epilepsy-related psychosis?
Identifies seizure-related patterns absent in schizophrenia
This aids in differentiating between the two conditions.
What type of symptoms does schizophrenia typically present?
Negative symptoms alongside positive ones
This contrasts with epilepsy-related psychosis.
What type of symptoms are predominantly exhibited in epilepsy-related psychosis?
Positive symptoms
This is a key differentiating factor from schizophrenia.
What specific seizure semiology can differentiate epilepsy-related psychosis from schizophrenia?
Olfactory hallucinations and automatisms
These symptoms are distinct and indicative of seizure activity.
What is required for an accurate diagnosis between schizophrenia and epilepsy-related psychosis?
Holistic patient assessment
Recognizing subtleties in symptoms is crucial.
How does epilepsy-related depression differ from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?
Aligns with seizure phases and may resolve quickly
MDD typically requires prolonged symptoms for diagnosis.
What unique mood fluctuation may occur in epileptic syndromes?
Interictal dysphoria
This is a subsyndromal mood fluctuation unique to epilepsy.
How can antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) influence mood in epilepsy?
They can trigger depressive symptoms
This differentiates epilepsy-related mood issues from MDD.
True or False: Both schizophrenia and epilepsy-related psychosis primarily exhibit negative symptoms.
False
Schizophrenia features negative symptoms, while epilepsy-related psychosis often shows predominantly positive symptoms.
