[Emotion dysregulation and psychopathology in epilepsy]. / Zaburzenia regulacji emocji i psychopatologia w padaczce.

Numerous studies show that the incidence of mental disorders among people with epilepsy is higher compared to people without such a diagnosis. However, these disorders are still neither diagnosed early enough nor properly treated. Inefficient and rigid emotion regulation catalyzes many mental disorders. The purpose of the present article was to analyze some of the psychological variables which are crucial for emotion regulation among people with epilepsy. The main part of this article was prepared on the basis of the analysis of the results of studies published in the MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases and concerning epilepsy and mental health. The introduction refers to epilepsy in terms of biopsychosocial approach. Then, the role of emotion regulation in the development of mental disorders in previous studies was analyzed. The contribution of psychological diagnosis and psychotherapy was described. In the further part of the article the following psychological variables were considered: attachment styles, defense mechanisms, alexithymia, as well as tendencies to experience sadness, anxiety and anger in people with epilepsy. Based on discussed studies, it can be concluded that many patients with epilepsy report numerous complaints about worsening of their emotional, cognitive and social functioning, which is reflected in significantly lower quality of life in this group. Therefore, assessment of mental state of patients is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. In the summary, it was emphasized that when evaluating diverse psychological variables, such as personality traits or emotion regulation patterns, it is possible to draw some conclusions about the inclination of patients with epilepsy to develop specific mental disorders. Combining pharmacological treatment with psychotherapy can bring improvements not only in terms of psychopathological symptoms, but also in terms of the quality of patient's cooperation with the doctor.

[Anxiety and depressive symptoms in epilepsy in the context of defense mechanisms and electrodermal activity]. / Objawy leku i depresji w padaczce w kontekscie mechanizmów obronnych i aktywnosci elektrodermalnej.

Depressive and anxiety disorders among people with epilepsy are more common than in general population and they are associated with less efficient emotion regulation and reduced quality of life. Unfortunately, these disorders are not always correctly diagnosed or treated. Some studies suggest that the electrodermal activity may serve as a marker for depression. AIM: The aim of the study was to measure and compare depressive and anxiety symptoms, defense mechanisms and electrodermal activity in response to cognitive stimulation in patients with epilepsy with the control group, and to test the correlations between symptoms of anxiety and depression, defense mechanisms and the electrodermal activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 64 patients diagnosed with epilepsy and 66 people from the control group were assessed with following psychological questionnaires: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Defense Styles Questionnaire 40. MindLAB Set was used to measure electrodermal activity. RESULTS: The study showed that people with epilepsy tend to have increased levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms compared with the control group. Patients also tend to use neurotic defense mechanisms what may be associated with poorer emotion regulation. Electrodermal activity was lower among people with epilepsy after cognitive stimulation. There was no statistically significant correlation between electrodermal activity, anxiety and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the need for assessment of anxiety, depressive symptoms and types of defense mechanisms among patients with epilepsy, as appropriate psychotherapeutic and/or pharmacological intervention could significantly improve the quality of life of these patients.