Premium
Aura Phenomena and Psychopathology: A Pilot Investigation
Author(s) -
Silberman Edward K.,
Sussman Neil,
Skillings Gerald,
Callanan Mimi
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1994.tb02511.x
Subject(s) - psychopathology , aura , psychology , minnesota multiphasic personality inventory , schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia , anxiety , psychiatry , epilepsy , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , clinical psychology , mood , personality , migraine , psychoanalysis
Summary: We investigated a possible relation between aura phenomena and psychopathology in patients with seizure disorders. Twenty‐one patients with a variety of seizure types (90% with generalized seizures, 12% with complex partial seizures, CPS) were studied. Aura phenomena were evaluated with the Silberman‐Post Psychosensory Phenomena Scale; psychopathology was assessed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia‐Lifetime Version (SADS‐L), the Minnesota Multiple Personality Inventory (MMPI), and the Washington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory (WPSI). Psychosensory symptoms occurring in the absence of frank seizures, but not those occurring with seizures, were related to increased psychopathology (primarily mood and anxiety related) and greater time in psychiatric treatment. Psychosensory symptoms may reflect ongoing neurophysiologic dysfunction related to epilepsy and may therefore be a useful subject for further study.