Case report
Epileptic exacerbations in a patient with paranoid schizophrenia
H.J.E. van de Mortel, J.M.L.G. á Campo, M.G. van Erp, Ch. Norra
We observed that a patient known to be suffering from therapy-resistant paranoid schizophrenia was having short bouts of acute exacerbations. We suspected a link with epilepsy and we therefore arranged for the patient to have additional special neurological screening. This resulted in an additional diagnosis of complex partial fronto-temporal epilepsy. On the basis of the diagnosis carbamazepine was added to the patient's antipsychotic medication and his condition improved dramatically. The acute exacerbations died down and the negative symptoms subsided.