Semiological bridge between psychiatry and epilepsy
Semiological bridge between psychiatry and epilepsy

Summary/Abstract: Epilepsy is a paroxysmal disturbance of brain function that presents as behavioral phenomena involving four spheres; sensory, motor, autonomic and consciousness. These behavioural disturbances though transient but may be confused with psychiatric disorders. Thus representing a diagnostic problem for neurophyschiatrists. Here we review the grey zone between psychiatry and epilepsy on three levels. The first level is the semiology itself, that the behavioral phenomenon at a time can be the presentation of an epileptic disorder and at another time a representation of a psychiatric disorder. The second level is the comorbidity between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders namely epileptic psychosis. The third level is the disorders of the brain that can present by both epileptic and/or psychiatric disorders. We reviewed the current literature in both epilepsy and Psychiatry including the main presentations that might be confusing. Conclusion:Epilepsy, schizophrenia like psychosis, intellectual disability, autism are different disorders that may share same semiological presentation, comorbidity or even etiology. A stepwise mental approach and decision making is needed excluding seizure disorder first before diagnosing a psychiatric one.

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