Introduction:

People with epilepsy are especially susceptible to different types of comorbidities, among which psychotic episodes stand out. This review article aims to update health professionals in the recognition of the different types of psychosis that occur in patients with epilepsy, their clinical characteristics and their therapeutic management, in order to ensure early diagnosis and management.

Development:

The overall prevalence of psychosis in patients with any type of epilepsy is 5.6%. This frequency increases to 7% if only those cases of psychosis occurring in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy are considered. The odds ratio for the development of psychosis in patients with epilepsy is 7.83. The presence of psychosis significantly alters the functionality of patients, generating a break in the way they usually lead their daily lives. This generates a challenge in the management of this type of patients, who manifest both neurological and psychiatric symptoms, so they must be evaluated by multidisciplinary teams.

Conclusion:

Psychotic symptoms in patients with epilepsy occur due to various causes, from the action of antibodies against neurotransmitter receptors to structural encephalic alterations related to the frontal cortex and limbic system. Its therapeutic management is based on the optimization of anticonvulsant treatment associated with the use of antipsychotics for symptomatic management in moderate to severe cases.

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