Bipolar spectrum disorders in patients with epilepsy: clinical and psychological evaluation
Bipolar spectrum disorders and epilepsy have high comorbidity. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of bipolar spectrum affective disorders in patients with epilepsy and to examine clinical and psychological (cognitive, emotional and behavioral) spheres in patients with different affective symptoms. Material and Methods: We evaluated 83 patients with epilepsy with the psychometric scales HCL-32 and SCID-5. 39 patients with epilepsy had complex psychological evaluation. Results: 48,2% of patients had episodes of mood elevation from 0 to 200 days during the year (average - 47,3 days) based on the HCL-32 scale results. 6% of patients were diagnosed with subclinical affective symptoms fitting the criteria for the cyclotimia diagnosis (F34.0). The specificities of cognitive, emotional and behavioral spheres in epileptic patients with elevated and depressed mood were studied. Their impact on adaptive and non-adaptive patients coping strategies also was evaluated.