Clinical, Socio-Economic, and Psychological Changes after Temporal Lobectomy for Epilepsy

Abstract

Since 1952 over 200 patients have been treated in the Guy's-Maudsley Neurosurgical Unit for intractable temporal lobe epilepsy by anterior temporal lobectomy. Each case has been evaluated before and after operation by a neurosurgeon, psychiatrists, and psychologists. Electroencephalography and air encephalography have been routine and the operative technique standardized. The resected portion has been removed in one piece allowing detailed pathological examination. The results in terms of relief of seizures, effects on personality, effects on psychological test scores, and the pathological findings have been reported at intervals (Hill, Pond, Mitchell and Falconer, 1957; Falconer and Serafetinides, 1963; Falconer, Serafetinides and Corsellis, 1964).