Psychiatric features in autosomal dominant lateral temporal epilepsy associated with LGI1 mutations

Objective: Mutations in the leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) gene or epitempin cause autosomal dominant lateral temporal epilepsy (ADLTE), an epileptic syndrome characterized by focal seizures with prominent auditory symptoms and benign clinical course. Psychiatric disorders have seldom been described in this condition. This study aims to assess the psychiatric comorbidity in a small group of patients affected with ADLTE associated with LGI1 mutations. Methods: We studied seven patients from three LGI1-mutated ADLTE families by means of psycodiagnostic scales, i.e. BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), STAI-Y (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y; 1 and 2), BIS-11 (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11), and TAS-20 (Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20). In addition, the Structured Clinical Interviews for DSMIV (SCID) for both Axis I (SCID-I) and Axis II (SCID II) disorders have been administered by specifical- Clinical Cases and Reviews in Epilepsy 2016; 1(2):159-163 159 ly trained psychiatric interviewers. Results: In our families, ADLTE patients display a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, including both major disturbances and personality disorders according to the DSMIV. Moreover, higher levels of impulsiveness are observed in some ADLTE patients compared to healthy controls. Discussion and conclusion: A small group of ADLTE-LGI1 mutated patients was shown to have high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities and high levels of impulsiveness. These data need to be confirmed in a larger sample. A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation should be offered to these patients in order to define and treat these comorbidities.