Objective evaluation of personality and psychopathology in temporal lobe versus extratemporal lobe epilepsy

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 172 - 177
• Main Authors: Locke, Dona E.C, Fakhoury, Toufic A, Berry, David T.R, Locke, Trey R, Schmitt, Frederick A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Depression; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - etiology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - complications; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - diagnosis; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - physiopathology; Female; Functional Laterality - physiology; Health concern; Humans; Male; MMPI; Neurology; Personality; Personality Disorders - diagnosis; Personality Disorders - etiology; Personality Disorders - psychology; Personality Inventory; Seizures - complications; Seizures - diagnosis; Seizures - physiopathology; Severity of Illness Index; Temporal lobe epilepsy; Temporal lobe epilepsy; Depression; Personality; Health concern
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.11.005

Abstract Previous research has been equivocal on personality trait and psychopathology differences between temporal lobe and other types of epilepsy, as well as between patients with right and left temporal lobe seizure foci. In this study, personality differences between patients with right temporal ( n = 23), left temporal ( n = 21), and extratemporal ( n = 24) epilepsy were investigated using the NEO Personality Inventory—Revised (NEO-PI-R). No statistically significant differences were found on any of the NEO-PI-R domains or facet trait scales. There were also no significant differences between groups on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2), a measure of psychopathology. However, mild elevations were seen in all groups on clinical scales related to physical symptoms, health concern, and depression. These data suggest there are no consistent personality or psychopathology differences, as measured by the NEO-PI-R and the MMPI-2, between patients with left temporal, right temporal, and extratemporal epilepsy whose seizures are localized using video/EEG monitoring.