Non-convulsive partial seizure presenting with psychiatric symptoms

ABSTRACT

A 46-year-old man presented with a six-month history of recurrent episodes of abnormal behaviors characterized by agitation, anxiety, aggression, impulsion, and depression. They were not accompanied by obvious convulsions. Brain MRI demonstrated cerebromalacia from previous traumatic brain injury in both frontal and left anterior temporal lobe. Interictal EEG showed a focal seizure disorder arising from both temporal areas. Following antiepileptic medication, the abnormal behaviors disappeared. These results suggest that non-convulsive status epilepticus or a cluster of seizures could account for prolonged behavioral disturbances.