Affectivity and Subjective Memory in Patients with Intractable Medial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Background: in the literature related to intractable medial temporal lobe epilepsy, some divergence is observed in terms of the factors that may be leading to memory complaints in patients with this condition. Objective: to identify the relationship between some manifestations of affectivity and subjective memory in patients with intractable medial temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods: a case series study was conducted in 32 patients aged 15 to 60 years treated at the International Center for Neurological Restoration from January 2008 through September 2011. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Depression Inventory and Questionnaire of Memory Efficiency were applied. The variables studied were anxiety, depression and subjective memory. Descriptive statistics and the Spearman correlation were used to process the data. Results: a prevalence of mean levels of state-trait anxiety and state depression was observed; however, trait depression reached high levels. Patients reported complaints about their memory functioning. A negative relationship between trait depression and subjective memory (r = -0.36, p < 0.05) was obtained. Conclusion: some manifestations of affectivity (anxiety and depression), subjective memory impairment regardless of the lateralization of the ictal onset zone, and the relationship between trait depression and subjective memory were observed in patients with intractable medial temporal lobe epilepsy.