Mood change preceding epileptic seizures.

Mood ratings were obtained for at least 56 days from 27 patients with diverse forms of epilepsy, 13 of whom suffered at least one seizure over the course of the study. For these 13 patients, mean ratings of mood on eight of the 10 scales showed a decline on the day(s) preceding the seizure and an increase after the seizure. Data from six patients accounted for most of the decline. Decline was most prominent on the Depression, Anxiety, Freedom, and Anger Scales. One patient's mood ratings rose significantly before seizures. Comments recorded before the seizures confirmed the decline in mood preceding seizures and showed an increase in negative life events for the patients whose mood declined before seizures. The relations of life events and mood to seizures apparently did not depend on each other.