Research diagnostic criteria (RDC) mental disorder and self-reported symptoms in outpatients with complex partial seizures (CPS).

Fifteen outpatients with complex partial seizures (CPS) were investigated to assess the presence and severity of affective disorders, anxiety, and cognitive deficits. Forty percent of patients met the criteria for an affective disorder according to Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC). Patients scored significantly higher than controls on the Beck Depression Inventory (p less than 0.001), on the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.05), on the Symptom Questionnaire scales for anxiety (p less than 0.005), depression (p less than 0.01), and somatization (p less than 0.01). They also scored significantly lower than controls on the Mini-Mental State Examination for grading cognitive state (p less than 0.05). Epileptic patients with RDC diagnosis of depression reported significantly more symptoms of depression, anxiety, somatization, and less sociability and trustfulness than epileptic patients without concurrent mental disorders. Implications of these results are discussed.