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Epileptic fits being no more than a mood swing under stress? Is this possible?

Sun, 12/12/2004 - 18:09
Topic: Diagnostic Dilemmas and Testing
My psychiatrist has told me that i have epilepsy, caused by severe depression after I was attacked in the street and suffered harrasment when i lived in a different city. I have never had an epileptic seizure, but am depressed a lot of the time and i can become angry and distressed when someone is truly and heavily rude or dishonest to me (i will shout at them and cry). My doctor also gave me medication for my depression (Tegretol) which caused two hallucinations. I reported the hallucinations and the psychiatrist  said that they were a direct indicator of epilepsy. I am forced to think that this is a diagnosis caused by negligence, but he said that epileptic seizures can also be just a mood swing while someone is being nasty to you. Is this possible?

Comments

RE: Epileptic fits being no more than a mood swing under stress?

Submitted by Jude on Fri, 2004-10-01 - 08:06
You wrote... My psychiatrist has told me that i have epilepsy, caused by severe depression ....My opinion only,Depression does not create nor cause one to become an epileptic or cause a seizure disorder.if that were the case,based on the amounts of anti depressions prescibed and sold in this country,the stats on seizure disorders would be much higher than it already is.However, often times, depression may accompany certain types of seizures, and may be a pre or postictal reponse, or even an emotinal response to a seizure,but to say that depression causes a seizure disorder?This is new to me.Tegretol and your response to it,(hallucination} I don't think is an accurate way of diagnosing a seizure disorder.If that were the case, diagnosing seizure disorders, would be a lot less costly and time consumming.Hallucinations can be a symptom of many many things.From sleep deprivation,medications, certain illicit drug use,certain migranes,psychological factors and disorders,to a host of other non seizure/epilepsy related reasons.Although they "may" be an aspect of particular seizure types or syndromes,but to use Tegretol and an hallucinating event to diagnose a seizure disorder is new to me.Just my opinion.I may also have misread your post.If that is the case,please do respond or elaborate.Jude

RE: RE: Epileptic fits being no more than a mood swing under str

Submitted by gentlewings on Sat, 2004-10-02 - 13:05

Could I ask if you are medically qualified to state the reasons given that you have in your post please,if so how long have you been practising as a psychiatrist or a neuro?

The original poster asked why their psychiatrist had reached the decision they had based on the information given... without either consulting another more qualified member of the medical profession ..

 

Could I ask if you are medically qualified to state the reasons given that you have in your post please,if so how long have you been practising as a psychiatrist or a neuro?

The original poster asked why their psychiatrist had reached the decision they had based on the information given... without either consulting another more qualified member of the medical profession ..

 

RE: RE: RE: Epileptic fits being no more than a mood swing under

Submitted by Jude on Sat, 2004-10-02 - 13:46
Hello,I'm not certain the response from gentlewings was directed at me or not.I just recieved it in my e-mail.So I'll answer anyway.No I am not a medical professional.I, like many on a public forum such as this one,am not a qualified prof. Nor do I attempt to provide a diffinitive dx. on a message board....and that's why I did not provide one.I'm willing to bet that professionals are least apt to provide any medical advice on a public forum,unless it is specifically geared to answer questions with the understanding that it is not a substitute for seeking medical treatment.Even then,disclaimers are quite clear regarding any information provided .But still, even then it is not a substitute for seeking medical advice.Big ethical and legal liability issues I would think, would stop anyone that is an M.D. to provide such information on a public communication board.However,I did state in my post that it was my own opinion and that Depression being a cause for a seizure disorder,was yes, news to me.However,depression can be associated with some seizure types/ syndromes.I also understand that those reading a message board/forum such as this, ought not take any statements read, as concrete medical advice.I'm sure there is a disclaimer somewhere on this site.Given that,did I answer your question?Best Regards,Jude

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