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Epilepsy

What is epilepsy?

People with schizophrenia may show increased rates of co-occurring conditions. These include epilepsy, which is a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent seizures. There are several types of seizures; focal or partial seizures are subtle and may go unnoticed as mild activity starts in one area of the brain and can spread to other areas. Generalised seizures are more severe, involve both hemispheres simultaneously and result in loss of consciousness. There are also ‘epileptic spasms’ that are of unknown origin.

What is the evidence for epilepsy?

Moderate quality evidence suggests the prevalence rate of schizophrenia or interictal psychosis in people with epilepsy is around 5.4%, which is higher than general population rates (around 1%). Interictal psychosis is a schizophrenia-like psychosis that would fulfil diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia if epilepsy was not present.

June 2020

Last updated at: 5:10 am, 18th June 2020
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