A comparison of medically serious suicide attempters admitted to intensive care units versus other medically serious suicide attempters.

BACKGROUND: Medically serious suicide attempts (MSSA) represent a subgroup of clinically heterogeneous suicidal behaviours very close to deaths by suicide. A simple definition of an MSSA is a suicide attempt with life-threatening consequences, regardless of the severity of the attempter's mental disorder. Few studies have specifically analysed the heterogeneity of MSSA. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the profile of individuals who made a highly severe MSSA and to compare those admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU) - including Burn Units- with other MSSA admitted to other medical and surgical units. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 168 patients consecutively admitted to non-psychiatric wards from two public hospitals in Barcelona after an MSSA during a 3-year period. In order to select more severe MSSA, the minimum hospital stay was expanded from Beautrais' definition of ≥ 24 h to ≥ 48 h. Mean hospital stay was 23.68 (SD = 41.14) days. Patients needing ICU treatment (n = 99) were compared to other MSSArs (n = 69) that were admitted to other medical and surgical units, not requiring intensive care treatment, with an initial bivariant analysis followed by a logistic regression analysis using conditional entrance. RESULTS: Medically serious suicide attempters (MSSArs) spent more time hospitalized, more frequently reported recent stressful life events, were more likely to have at least one prior suicide attempt (SA) and their current attempt was more frequently non-planned, compared to the profile of MSSArs reported in previous studies. The most frequent method was medication overdose (67.3%) and jumping from heights (23.2%). Among those who chose more than one method (37.6%), the most frequent combination was medication overdose and drug use. Affective disorders and personality disorders were the most frequent diagnoses. Higher educational level, history of previous mental disorders and prior lifetime suicide attempts were significantly more frequent among those admitted to ICU compared to other MSSArs. Patients needing admission to ICU less frequently used self-poisoning and cuts. CONCLUSIONS: MSSA needing ICU admission can be regarded clinically as similar to attempts resulting in suicide. More research on this type of highly severe suicide behaviour is needed due to its serious implications both from a clinical and public health perspective.

Mental health assessment of Spanish frontline healthcare workers during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Background and objectiveThe Covid-19 pandemic continues challenging health systems globally, exposing healthcare workers to constant physical and psychological stressors. To date, several studies have already shown the catastrophic impact on the mental health of medical personnel during the early period of the pandemic. Nevertheless, literature evidences the dearth of works that evaluate the effect over time, understanding the pandemic as a sustained extreme stressor. The present study examines the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of Covid-19 frontline healthcare workers at six months follow-up.Material and methodsA total of 141 frontline healthcare workers from two tertiary hospitals were recruited between July and November 2020. Healthcare workers were evaluated psychologically at baseline and six months follow-up (January to May 2021) using psychometric tests for the assessment of acute stress (VASS, PSS-10, PCL-5), anxiety (STAI) and depression (PHQ-2)ResultsOverall, there was a general worsening of the mental health between the two psychological assessments, especially regarding depression and predisposition to perceiving the situations as a threat. Nurses and nurse aides showed poorer mental health while physicians improved over time. Reduced working hours and higher physical exercise resulted in better mental health among healthcare workers. Women and nursing staff were the most affected by psychological distress at baseline and six months follow-up.ConclusionReduced working hours, adequate resting periods, physical exercise, and efficient intervention strategies are of utmost importance in preventing, controlling, and reducing psychological distress among healthcare workers when coping with critical scenarios such as the current pandemic. (AU)

Antecedentes y objetivoLa pandemia Covid-19 sigue desafiando a los sistemas sanitarios, exponiendo al personal asistencial a estresores físicos y psicológicos. Actualmente, varios estudios han demostrado el impacto catastrófico en la salud mental del personal asistencial durante la primera etapa de la pandemia, pero pocos han considerado el seguimiento de los síntomas. El presente estudio examina el efecto de la pandemia en la salud mental del personal sanitario de primera línea a los 6 meses de seguimiento.Material y métodosSe evaluó psicológicamente a 141 trabajadores sanitarios de primera línea de 2 hospitales terciarios al inicio del estudio (julio-noviembre, 2020) y a los 6 meses (enero-mayo, 2021) mediante pruebas psicométricas para el estrés agudo (VASS, PSS-10, PCL-5), la ansiedad (STAI) y la depresión (PHQ-2).ResultadosEn general, se observó un empeoramiento de la salud mental entre las 2 evaluaciones psicológicas, especialmente en depresión y predisposición a percibir las situaciones como una amenaza. La salud mental del personal de enfermería empeoró con el tiempo, mientras que los médicos mejoraron. La reducción de la jornada laboral y el aumento del ejercicio físico mejoraron la salud mental. Las mujeres y el personal de enfermería fueron los más afectados por el malestar psicológico al inicio y a los 6 meses de seguimiento.ConclusiónJornadas laborales reducidas, períodos de descanso adecuados, ejercicio físico y estrategias de intervención eficientes son de suma importancia para prevenir, controlar y reducir el malestar psicológico entre el personal sanitario ante escenarios críticos como la pandemia actual. (AU)

Mental health assessment of Spanish healthcare workers during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak is posing unprecedented care scenarios, increasing the psychological distress among healthcare workers while reducing the efficiency of health systems. This work evaluated the psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Spanish frontline healthcare workers of two tertiary hospitals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Healthcare workers were recruited from the medical units designated for the care of Covid-19 patients. The psychological assessment consisted of an individual, face-to-face session where gold-standard psychometric tests were administered to assess stress (VASS & PSS-10), anxiety (STAI), depression (PHQ-2) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PCL-5). Regression models were also fitted to identify predictors of psychological distress. RESULTS: Overall, almost 13% of healthcare workers showed severe anxiety, while more than 26% had high levels of perceived stress. More than 23% presented severe posttraumatic stress symptoms, and another 13% had PHQ-2 scores equal to or above 3, compatible with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) diagnosis, respectively. Women, stress-related medication, overworking, performing in Covid-19 wards, and substance abuse were risk factors for increased psychological distress. Instead, practising exercise reduced the burden. CONCLUSION: This study outlines the severe psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Spanish frontline healthcare workers. The stress, depression and anxiety levels found were similar to those reported in similar works but much higher than in Wuhan healthcare workers. Knowledge of risk factors for increased psychological distress may help to develop comprehensive intervention strategies to prevent, control and reduce the mental health exacerbation of healthcare workers, thereby maintaining the effectiveness of health systems in critical scenarios.

Medically Serious Suicide Attempts in Personality Disorders.

Medically serious suicide attempts (MSSA) represent a subgroup of clinically heterogeneous suicidal behaviors very close to suicides. Personality disorders (PD) are highly prevalent among them, together with affective and substance use disorders. However, few studies have specifically analyzed the role of PD in MSSA. These suicide attempts (SA) are usually followed by longer hospitalization periods and may result in severe physical and psychological consequences. The aim of this study is to compare the profile of MSSA patients with and without PD. MSSA were defined according to Beautrais 'criteria, but had to remain hospitalized ≥48 h. Overall, 168 patients from two public hospitals in Barcelona were evaluated during a three-year period. Mean hospital stay was 23.68 (standard deviation (SD) = 41.14) days. Patients with PD (n = 69) were more likely to be younger, female, make the first and the most serious SA at a younger age, reported recent stressful life-events and more frequently had previous suicide attempts compared to those without PD. However, no differences were found with regards to comorbid diagnoses, current clinical status, features of the attempt, or their impulsivity and hopelessness scores. Therefore, focusing on the subjective, qualitative experiences related to MSSA among PD patients may increase understanding of the reasons contributing to these attempts in order to improve prevention strategies in the future.

Psychotic disorders versus other psychiatric diagnoses in consultation-liaison psychiatry: 10 years of a single-center experience.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical management of patients with psychotic disorders (PDs) can be particularly complex if it takes place in the context of consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) services within a general hospital. However, there are few studies specifically investigating the acute treatment procedures for these patients in CLP settings. OBJECTIVES: To examine the characteristics of a sample of inpatients with a primary PD referred to a CLP service over a 10-year period and to compare the clinical features of this subgroup with patients with other diagnoses (ODs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational and descriptive study over a 10-year period (2005-2014) assessing prospectively adult inpatients admitted to non-psychiatric units of the University Clinical Hospital of Barcelona who were consecutively referred to our CLP service. We performed a posthoc analysis to compare the clinical features between the subgroup of patients with PDs and the rest of patients who meet the criteria for ODs. RESULTS: We requested 393 consultations for patients who either already had the diagnosis of a primary PD and 9,415 for patients with ODs. Our results showed that patients with PDs were younger than the patients with ODs, had a higher prevalence of somatic illnesses related with an unhealthy lifestyle (such as infectious, endocrine, or metabolic diseases), less frequency of cancer, and a need to receive a more intensive psychiatric care. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatients with PDs referred to CLP have different clinical features compared with those who met the criteria for ODs. They are a highly complex group with specific psychiatric care needs.

Trastornos psicóticos versus otros diagnósticos psiquiátricos en psiquiatría de enlace e interconsulta: estudio unicéntrico durante un periodo de 10 años / Psychotic disorders versus other psychiatric diagnoses in consultation-liaison psychiatry: 10 years of a single-center experience

Introducción. El manejo clínico de los pacientes con trastornos psicóticos (TPs) es particularmente complejo si se lleva a cabo en el contexto de los servicios de psiquiatría de enlace e interconsulta (PEI) de un hospital general. Sin embargo, disponemos de pocos estudios que hayan investigado de forma específica los procedimientos asistenciales de tratamiento agudo para estos pacientes en entornos PEI. Objetivos. Examinar las características de una muestra de pacientes hospitalizados que presentan un TPs primario, que son remitidos a un servicio de PEI durante un período de 10 años y comparar las características clínicas de este subgrupo con respecto a los pacientes con otros diagnósticos (OD). Material y métodos. Estudio observacional y descriptivo llevado a cabo durante un período de 10 años (2005-2014), evaluando prospectivamente pacientes adultos ingresados en unidades no psiquiátricas del Hospital Clínico Universitario de Barcelona, que fueron remitidos de forma consecutiva a nuestro servicio de PEI. Realizamos un análisis post-hocpara comparar las características clínicas entre el subgrupo de pacientes con TPs y el resto de pacientes que cumplían los criterios para OD. Resultados. Se recibieron 393 interconsultas referentes a pacientes que presentaban un diagnóstico de TPs primario y 9.415 derivaciones de pacientes con OD. Nuestros resulta-dos mostraron que los pacientes con TPs eran más jóvenes que los pacientes con OD, tenían una mayor prevalencia de enfermedades somáticas relacionadas con un estilo de poco saludable (como enfermedades infecciosas, endocrinas o metabólicas), una menor frecuencia de cáncer y una necesidad de recibir asistencia psiquiátrica de forma más intensiva. Conclusiones. Los pacientes hospitalizados con TPs que son remitidos a los servicios de PEI tienen diferentes características clínicas en comparación con aquellos que cumplen con los criterios para OD. Se trata de un grupo complejo, con necesidades específicas en cuanto a la atención psiquiátrica

Introduction. The clinical management of patients with psychotic disorders (PDs) can be particularly complex if it takes place in the context of consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) services within a general hospital. However, there are few studies specifically investigating the acute treatment procedures for these patients in CLP settings. Objectives. To examine the characteristics of a sample of inpatients with a primary PD referred to a CLP service over a 10-year period and to compare the clinical features of this subgroup with patients with other diagnoses (ODs).Materials and methods. Observational and descriptive study over a 10-year period (2005-2014) assessing prospectively adult inpatients admitted to non-psychiatric units of the University Clinical Hospital of Barcelona who were consecutively referred to our CLP service. We performed a post-hoc analysis to compare the clinical features between the subgroup of patients with PDs and the rest of patients who meet the criteria for ODs. Results. We requested 393 consultations for patients who either already had the diagnosis of a primary PD and 9,415 for patients with ODs. Our results showed that patients with PDs were younger than the patients with ODs, had a higher prevalence of somatic illnesses related with an unhealthy lifestyle (such as infectious, endocrine, or metabolic diseases), less frequency of cancer, and a need to receive a more intensive psychiatric care. Conclusions. Inpatients with PDs referred to CLP have different clinical features compared with those who met the criteria for ODs. They are a highly complex group with specific psychiatric care needs

Clinical profile of inpatients referred to a consultation-liaison psychiatry service: an observational study assessing changes over a 10-yearperiod.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has described the characteristics of Consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) services over one or more years. The aim of this paper was to examine the patterns of a large sample of patients receiving CLP service over a 10-year-period (2005–2014) and to determine the possible changes over time of the clinical practice. The sample size of our study, the duration of the observation period and the application of standardized operating procedures for acquiring and coding data, will provide more robust evidence than has been reported by most similar studies published in the last years. METHODS: Longitudinal observational and descriptive study. Data were collected prospectively with standardized operating procedures on consecutive inpatient consultation requests to the University Clinical Hospital of Barcelona CLP service. RESULTS: 9,808 psychiatric consultation were requested (referral rate=2.2%). The referrals to our CLP service were requested mainly by medical units. The most frequent psychiatric diagnoses were alcohol-related disorders, delirium and adjustment disorders. The mean percentage of patients treated with psychopharmacologic drugs was 81.6%. The mean length of the hospital stays of patients with psychiatric comorbidity referred to our CLP service was significantly longer than that of all the admissions to the hospital during that period. Most of the studied variables remained constant over the 10-year-period. However, some somatic diagnoses at admission, reasons for referral and recommendations of psychotropic drugs presented significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the continuous evolution and changes of several factors in the last two decades, like the health care systems, the clinical practice of CLP services has been quite stable over time. However, our results support the idea of a non-static specialty.

Características clínicas de los pacientes derivados a un servicio hospitalario de psiquiatría de enlace e interconsulta: un estudio observacional evaluando cambios a lo largo de un período de 10 años / Clinical profile of inpatients referred to a consultation-liaison psychiatry service: an observational study assessing changes over a 10-year-period

Objetivo. Existen diversas investigaciones previas que han descrito las características de distintos servicios hospitalarios de Psiquiatría de Enlace e Interconsulta (PEI) a lo largo de un periodo de tiempo de uno o más años. El propósito del presente artículo es el de examinar las características de una muestra amplia de pacientes remitidos a un servicio hospitalario de PEI, durante un período de 10 años (2005-2014) y determinar los posibles cambios de la práctica clínica a lo largo del tiempo. El tamaño muestral de nuestro estudio, la duración del periodo de observación y la aplicación de procedimientos estandarizados para la obtención y codificación de los datos, aportan una evidencia más sólida en comparación con otros estudios similares publicados en los últimos años. Métodos. Estudio observacional, longitudinal y descriptivo. Los datos se recopilaron de forma prospectiva mediante procedimientos estandarizados, en base a las solicitudes recibidas en el servicio hospitalario de PEI del Hospital Clínico Universitario de Barcelona. Resultados. se solicitaron un total de 9.808 consultas psiquiátricas (tasa de derivación=2,2%). Las derivaciones a nuestro servicio fueron realizadas principalmente por unidades médicas. Los diagnósticos psiquiátricos más frecuentes fueron los trastornos relacionados con el consumo de alcohol, los cuadros confusionales y los trastornos de adaptación. El porcentaje medio de pacientes manejados con tratamiento psicofarmacológico fue del 81,6%. La duración media de las hospitalizaciones de los pacientes con comorbilidad psiquiátrica, derivados a nuestro servicio de psiquiatría de enlace, fue significativamente mayor a la estancia media global del hospital durante ese periodo. La mayoría de las variables estudiadas permanecieron constantes durante el período de 10 años. Sin embargo, algunos diagnósticos médicos en el momento del ingreso, motivos de derivación y recomendaciones de tratamiento psicofarmacológico presentaron cambios significativos. Conclusiones. A pesar de la evolución continua y los importantes cambios que se han producido en los sistemas de salud en las dos últimas décadas, la práctica clínica de los servicios de PEI ha permanecido bastante estable en el tiempo. Sin embargo, nuestros resultados apoyan la idea de una especialidad dinámica

Objective. Previous research has described the characteristics of Consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) services over one or more years. The aim of this paper was to examine the patterns of a large sample of patients receiving CLP service over a 10-year-period (2005-2014) and to determine the possible changes over time of the clinical practice. The sample size of our study, the duration of the observation period and the application of standardized operating procedures for acquiring and coding data, will provide more robust evidence than has been reported by most similar studies published in the last years. Methods. Longitudinal observational and descriptive study. Data were collected prospectively with standardized operating procedures on consecutive inpatient consultation requests to the University Clinical Hospital of Barcelona CLP service. Results. 9,808 psychiatric consultation were requested (referral rate=2.2%). The referrals to our CLP service were requested mainly by medical units. The most frequent psychiatric diagnoses were alcohol-related disorders, delirium and adjustment disorders. The mean percentage of patients treated with psychopharmacologic drugs was 81.6%. The mean length of the hospital stays of patients with psychiatric comorbidity referred to our CLP service was significantly longer than that of all the admissions to the hospital during that period. Most of the studied variables remained constant over the 10-year-period. However, some somatic diagnoses at admission, reasons for referral and recommendations of psychotropic drugs presented significant changes. Conclusions. Despite the continuous evolution and changes of several factors in the last two decades, like the health care systems, the clinical practice of CLP services has been quite stable over time. However, our results support the idea of a non-static specialty

[Prevalence and associated factors of anger post stroke: a systematic review]. / Revisión sistemática de la prevalencia y factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is one of the main causes of death and disability and has a high economic cost. Anger after stroke is common and worsens functionality and quality of life. The study of this comorbidity has been hampered by the lack of standardization in anger's evaluation. AIM: To show the current evidence of anger's prevalence and anger's associated factors after stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medline systematic review of original papers studying prevalence and associated factors of anger after stroke. RESULTS: Post-stroke anger has a high prevalence (15-57.2%). Most studies have found a lack of association between irritability and sex, age, type, size, laterality and severity of the stroke and functionality. Occasionally anger has been associated with frontal infarcts and aphasia. Data regarding the association between anger and motor deficits and cognitive impairment has been inconclusive while the association between anger and psychiatric history, post stroke emotional incontinence and post stroke depression has been widely replicated. Environmental factors have been difficult to study but may be relevant. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of anger post stroke. Psychiatric factors have been associated to it, while other associations are less conclusive. To improve anger knowledge and management, it would be necessary to improve its definition and assessment.

TITLE: Revision sistematica de la prevalencia y factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus.Introduccion. El ictus es una de las primeras causas de muerte e incapacidad, y supone un elevado coste economico. La ira tras un ictus es frecuente, y empeora la funcionalidad y la calidad de vida, aunque todavia es poco comprendida. Objetivo. Conocer la evidencia actual sobre la prevalencia y factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus. Materiales y metodos. Revision sistematica en Medline de todos los articulos originales que estudian la prevalencia o factores asociados a la ira tras un ictus. Resultados. La prevalencia de la ira tras un ictus es elevada (15-57,2%). La mayoria de los estudios no encuentra asociacion entre la ira y el sexo, edad, naturaleza, tamaño, lateralidad, gravedad del ictus y funcionalidad. Ocasionalmente, la ira se ha asociado a localizaciones anteriores y afasia. Los datos de su asociacion con deficits motores y deterioro cognitivo son poco concluyentes. Sin embargo, la asociacion con antecedentes psiquiatricos, clinica depresiva e incontinencia emocional comorbida se ha replicado ampliamente. Los factores ambientales, dificiles de estudiar, podrian tener relevancia. Conclusion. La prevalencia de la ira tras un ictus es elevada. Se ha asociado a patologia psiquiatrica, y otras asociaciones son poco concluyentes. Para un mejor conocimiento de la ira y los factores asociados tras un ictus, seria necesario mejorar sus definiciones e instrumentos de medida.

Crisis No Epilépticas Psicógenas: a propósito de un caso / Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures: a case report

Las crisis no epilépticas psicógenas (CNEP) son episodios paroxísticos de alteración conductual, que superficialmente parecen crisis epilépticas verdaderas, pero sin los cambios electroencefalográficos esperables ni la asociación a disfunción del sistema nervioso central. Suponen entre un 17 y un 30% de la población atendida en unidades de epilepsia de hospitales de tercer nivel para evaluación de crisis refractarias al tratamiento farmacológico. Estas crisis comprenden la mayoría de eventos paroxísticos no epilépticos y diversos estudios han encontrado una alta prevalencia a lo largo de la vida de múltiples trastornos psiquiátricos, incluso se ha observado la presencia simultánea de 2 o más diagnósticos psiquiátricos en el 70% de los pacientes. Ante la evidencia de ausencia de crisis epilépticas verdaderas, el primer paso es suprimir lentamente el tratamiento anticomicial. Posteriormente se debe iniciar un adecuado tratamiento psicofarmacológico en relación con las alteraciones psicopatológicas que muestre el paciente. Es preciso identificar las diversas variables emocionales y psicológicas que pueden estar incidiendo en la aparición y perpetuación de las CNEP y abordarlas mediante tratamiento psicológico. El objetivo de presentar este caso clínico es el de plantearlas dificultades que suele entrañar el diagnóstico diferencial entre epilepsia y CNEP, destacando la gran importancia del abordaje conjunto, neurológico y psiquiátrico, en el tratamiento de estos cuadros (AU)

Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) are paroxysmal episodes of altered behavior that superficially resemble epileptic seizures but lack both the expected electroencephalographical epileptic changes and the association to dysfunction of central nervous system. They account for 17 to 30% of the population admitted to epilepsy units of tertiary hospitals for evaluation of seizures refractory to the pharmacological treatment. These episodes include most of the paroxysmal non epileptic events and diverse studies have found a high prevalence of multiple psychiatric disorders during the lifetime. The simultaneous presence of 2 or more psychiatric disorders has even been observed in 70% of the patients. When there is evidence on the absence of real epileptic seizures, the first step is to slowly suppress the antiepileptic treatment. After, adequate psychopharmacological treatment should be initiated in relationship with the psychopathological state of the patient. The different emotional and psychological variables that may be affecting the appearance and perpetuation of PNES must be identified and then resolved with psychological treatment. The aim of the present case report is to present the difficulties of differential diagnosis between epilepsy and PNES, emphasizing the great importance of both neurological and psychiatric management in the treatment of these clinical symptoms (AU)

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: a case report.

Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) are paroxysmal episodes of altered behavior that superficially resemble epileptic seizures but lack both the expected electroencephalographical epileptic changes and the association to dysfunction of central nervous system. They account for 17 to 30% of the population admitted to epilepsy units of tertiary hospitals for evaluation of seizures refractory to the pharmacological treatment. These episodes include most of the paroxysmal non-epileptic events and diverse studies have found a high prevalence of multiple psychiatric disorders during the lifetime. The simultaneous presence of 2 or more psychiatric disorders has even been observed in 70% of the patients. When there is evidence on the absence of real epileptic seizures, the first step is to slowly suppress the antiepileptic treatment. After, adequate psychopharmacological treatment should be initiated in relationship with the psychopathological state of the patient. The different emotional and psychological variables that may be affecting the appearance and perpetuation of PNES must be identified and then resolved with psychological treatment. The aim of the present case report is to present the difficulties of differential diagnosis between epilepsy and PNES, emphasizing the great importance of both neurological and psychiatric management in the treatment of these clinical symptoms.

Relaciones entre epilepsia y psicosis: de la clínica a la neurobiología / Associations between epilepsy and psychosis: from clinical findings to neurobiology

El objetivo del trabajo es revisar las diferencias y similitudes entre psicosis en la epilepsia y las psicosis esquizofrénicas desde el punto de vista de la clínica, la neuroimagen, la neuropsicología, la genética, la electrofisiología, la neuropatología, y de sus mecanismos fisiopatológicos para intentar aclarar la compleja relación que hasta la fecha parece haber entre ambas, en concreto sus mecanismos etiológicos y si hay relación causa-efecto entre ambas. Los resultados muestran que la clínica y la neuropsicología no permiten diferenciarlas, en cambio la neuroimagen ofrece aspectos diferenciales; así la amígdala estaría agrandada en epilépticos psicóticos comparada con la de los esquizofrénicos. También hay diferencias en la neurofisiología, concretamente el componente N100 de los potenciales evocados auditivos que diferencian entre esquizofrenia y psicosis epiléptica. Las hipótesis fisiopatológicas que explican las psicosis epilépticas muestran un mayor nivel de complejidad que las de la esquizofrenia, al sumar a las alteraciones del neurodesarrollo y los traumas fisicoquímicos y ambientales posnatales, la existencia de anomalías neuroquímicas por alteraciones eléctricas repetidas (fenómeno kindling). Pese al avance de las técnicas de investigación en neurociencias, se necesitan más estudios que clarifiquen la etiopatogenia y la fisiopatología de las psicosis epilépticas y esquizofrenia, y también instrumentos clínicos más objetivos que ayuden a su diagnóstico diferencial

The present article aims to review the state of art in the medical literature concerning the differences and similarities between psychoses of epilepsy (POE) and schizophrenia. The perspectives of clinical features, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, genetics, electrophysiology, and neuropathology are taken into account to disentangle the complex relationship between the two disorders, more precisely their etiological mechanisms and whether there is a cause-effect relation between them. The results show that clinical evaluation and neuropsychology provide no basis for differentiation. In contrast, neuroimaging highlights several distinguishing features, i.e. the amygdala is larger in patients with POE than in those with schizophrenia. Neurophysiology shows significant differences in the N-100 component of auditory evoked potentials between POE and schizophrenia. The physiopathological hypotheses that address POE are more complex than those addressing schizophrenia since, in addition to the neurodevelopment disorder and the physical-chemical and environmental postnatal traumas, they add a new component, namely the presence of neurochemical disorders caused by repeated electrical disorders (kindling effect). Despite the progress made in research techniques in the neurosciences, more investigation is required to clarify the etiology and physiopathology of POE and schizophrenia. In addition, the development of further objective clinical tools would improve differential diagnoses