Psychiatric disorders following and preceding temporal lobectomy]

We analysed pre- as well as post-operative psychiatric disorders in thirty eight patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. While postoperative paranoid disorders were closely correlated with preoperative acute interictal psychoses, episodes of postictal psychoses prior to surgery were associated with postoperative mood disorders. A good prognosis of postoperative mood disorders was stressed. The literature search supported the predominance of right-sided lobectomy in patients with de novo psychoses after surgery. The relationship between left-sided lobectomy and postoperative mood disorders needs further amplification and remains tentative. We stressed the need for a prophylactic psychotherapy to surgical candidates to cope with unrealistic wishes to get relieved from all the difficulties in their lives after temporal lobectomy.