Epileptic schizophrenia: clinical features and outcome.

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcome of epileptic schizophrenia. A total of 106 patients with combined diagnoses of epilepsy and psychiatric disorder were identified; 20 were excluded and 70 agreed to participate. They were interviewed using the Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders Schedule - Lifetime Version and psychiatric diagnoses were assigned based on Research Diagnostic Criteria. Thirty-two subjects with additional diagnosis of schizophrenia were identified and compared with 31 functional schizophrenic patients matched for age. Both groups shared third person auditory hallucinations most in common, and delusions of passivity least; delusions of passivity occurred significantly more in functional schizophrenia. The global outcome was worse in epileptic schizophrenia and there was also evidence of significantly worse performance on the Mini-Mental State Examination by the same group.