Objective evaluation of personality and psychopathology in temporal lobe versus extratemporal lobe epilepsy

Previous research has been equivocal on personality trait and psychopathology differences between temporal lobe and other types of epilepsy, as well as between patients with right and left temporal lobe seizure foci In this study, personality differences between patients with right temporal (n = 23), left temporal (n = 21), and extratemporal (n = 24) epilepsy were investigated using the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R). No statistically significant differences were found oil any of the NEO-PI-R domains or facet trait scales There were also no significant differences between groups on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2), a pleasure of psychopathology However, mild elevations were seen in all groups oil clinical scales related to physical symptoms, health concern, and depression These data suggest there arc no consistent personality or psychopathology differences, as measured by the NEO-PI-R and the MMPI-2, between patients with left temporal, right temporal, and extratemporal epilepsy whose seizures are localized using video/EEG monitoring (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved