RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our objective was to define phenotypes of non-lesional late-onset epilepsy (NLLOE) depending on its presumed aetiology and to determine their seizure and cognitive outcomes at 12 months. METHODS: In all, 146 newly diagnosed NLLOE patients, >50 years old, were prospectively included and categorized by four presumed aetiological subtypes: neurodegenerative subtype (patients with a diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease) (n = 31), microvascular subtype (patients with three or more cardiovascular risk factors and two or more vascular lesions on MRI) (n = 39), inflammatory subtype (patient meeting international criteria for encephalitis) (n = 9) and unlabelled subtype (all individuals who did not meet the criteria for other subtypes) (n = 67). Cognitive outcome was determined by comparing for each patient the proportion of preserved/altered scores between initial and second neuropsychological assessment. RESULTS: The neurodegenerative subtype had the most severe cognitive profile at diagnosis with cognitive complaint dating back several years. The microvascular subtype was mainly evaluated through the neurovascular emergency pathway. Their seizures were characterized by transient phasic disorders. Inflammatory subtype patients were the youngest. They presented an acute epilepsy onset with high rate of focal status epilepticus. The unlabelled subtype presented fewer comorbidities with fewer lesions on brain imaging. The neurodegenerative subtype had the worst seizure and cognitive outcomes. In other groups, seizure control was good under antiseizure medication (94.7% seizure-free) and cognitive performance was stabilized or even improved. CONCLUSION: This new characterization of NLLOE phenotypes raises questions regarding the current International League Against Epilepsy aetiological classification which does not individualize neurodegenerative and microvascular aetiology per se.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies investigated the varying prevalence of post-epileptic seizure posttraumatic stress disorder (PS-PTSD). The current study aimed first to compare the profiles of patients with and without PS-PTSD and, second, to study the interaction between other past traumatic experiences, subjective ictal anxiety, psychiatric comorbidities, and PS-PTSD in people with epilepsy (PWE). METHODS: We conducted an observational study, investigating past traumatic experiences and PS-PTSD through standardized scales (CTQ-28, LEC-5 and PCL-5). We used semi-structured interviews and validated psychometric scales (NDDIE for depression and GAD-7 for anxiety) to collect data on general psychiatric comorbidities. We also assessed epilepsy specific psychiatric symptoms (interictal and peri-ictal). We performed a mediation analysis through PROCESS for SPSS to evaluate the effect of history of past trauma and subjective ictal anxiety on PS-PTSD through interictal depression and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: We enrolled 135 PWE, including 35 patients with PS-PTSD (29.5 %). Patients with PS-PTSD had significantly higher depression (12.87 vs 10; p = 0.005) and anxiety (7.74 vs 5.01; p = 0.027) scores and higher prevalence of peri-ictal psychiatric symptoms, compared to patients without PS-PTSD. The relationship between other past traumatic experiences and PS-PTSD was totally mediated by interictal depression and anxiety. We found a significant indirect effect of interictal anxiety symptoms on the path between subjective ictal anxiety and PS-PTSD. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results showed that patients with PS-PTSD have a more severe psychopathological profile (more peri ictal and inter ictal depressive and anxiety symptoms). Both inter ictal and subjective ictal anxiety appear to have a significant role in PS-PTSD.