Subjective Improvement following Treatment with Carbamazepin (Tegretol) for a Subpopulation of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries

Abstract

Over a 3-yr period, 19 patients who had sustained brain traumas during motor vehicle incidents and who exhibited abnormal scores for a dichotic word-listening task and Roberts' Epileptic Spectrum Disorder Inventory more than one year after the injury were recommended for treatment with carbamazepine (Tegretol). The psychiatric profile of these patients, as defined by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, was similar to the profile of patients from other studies who had displayed more objective improvement following this treatment. Of the 14 patients 12 who followed the recommendation retrospectively reported that within a few weeks after treatment they experienced marked reductions in the incidence of sudden confusion and depression, increased attention and focus, and either elimination or attenuation of an aversive sensed presence. Such results suggest that many of the debilitating symptoms that persist for months to years after a traumatic brain injury may be electrical in nature rather than due to "psychological responses" and might be treatable by appropriate dosages of carbamazepine or other, e.g., Gabapentin (Neurontin) antiepileptic compounds.

LORETA predicts electromagnetic sensitivity and “hearing voices” in a predictable, increasingly prevalent subpopulation: possible QEEG-based differential diagnosis

“…There are no a priori means at this time that would allow discernment of the validity of the patient's experiences or their origin. However if the initial neuroelectrical disruptions are correlated with direct changes from the artificial electromagnetic fields within the environment, sporadic geomagnetic activity or enhancements of Schumann parameters, the more optimal treatment would involve lower dosages of antiepileptic compounds rather than traditional antipsychotic pharmacology (Hines, et al, 1995;Roberts and Franzen 2001;Persinger, 2000). In our clinical experience the latter can exacerbate the symptoms in this particular population.…”

The Use of Antiepileptic Drugs in Acute Neuropsychiatric Conditions: Focus on Traumatic Brain Injury, Pain, and Alcohol Withdrawal

“…Easily initiated or excessive crying and/or laughing __14. Self-abusiveness, physical and/or verbal AEDs have been considered reasonable options for the management of agitation after TBI [21]. There have been two small case studies and two case series evaluating the use of carbamazepine and valproic acid (VPA) in the acute period after injury.…”