Psychiatric Symptoms of Epileptic Nature: An Old Hypothesis in Light of Current Psychopharmacologic Advances

Abstract

This paper analyses a hypothesis according to which many positive psychiatric symptoms should be interpreted as symptoms of epileptic nature. When we first raised this proposition, almost fifteen years ago, it was inconsistent with the widespread conviction among psychiatrists that psychopharmacological drugs used to suppress psychiatric symptoms were proconvulsant. But lately, there have appeared numerous neuroscientific investigations that defend the anticonvulsant effect of most psychopharmacological drugs, hence supporting our hypothesis. We have carried out bibliographical reviews in search of the pro-or anticonvulsant role of these substances, particularly lithium, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, dual antidepressants, and antipsychotic drugs. These researches show abundant evidence regarding the anticonvulsant action of these substances, a fact that contributes to a better comprehension of paradoxical relationship between epilepsy and psychoses.