Do Peri-ictal Psychiatric Symptoms Account for the Differences between Depressive Disorders in Patients with and without Epilepsy?

This chapter questions whether mood disorders differ between patients with and without epilepsy, and whether they are periictal symptoms and episodes responsible for these differences? The chapter reviews the available data of periictal depressive symptoms and episodes of depression. Recognition of periictal episodes and in particular, of postictal depressive and anxiety episodes, is of the essence, as they have a very negative impact on the quality of life of these patients. Postictal psychiatric symptoms are investigated in the course of an evaluation either in the clinic or in research studies. The atypical characteristics of mood disorders require that screening instruments and structured psychiatric interviews be developed specifically for patients with epilepsy.