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Intracarotid Amobarbital Test Observations

Geoffrey L. Ahern, MD, PhD; Anne M. Herring, RN, PhD; Julie Tackenberg, RN, MA, CNRN; Joachim F. Seeger, MD; Kalarickal J. Oommen, MD; David M. Labiner, MD; Martin E. Weinand, MD

Arch Neurol. 1993;50(10):1020-1025.

Abstract
• Objective.
—What is the relationship of "multiple personality disorder" in patients with temporolimbic epilepsy to certain types of hemispheric interaction?

Design.
—Case series.

Setting.
—Tertiary care referral center.

Patients.
—Two patients with temporolimbic epilepsy considered to be surgical candidates referred for the intracarotid amobarbital sodium procedure (IAP). Each individual had presented with different "personalities" in a characteristic temporal relationship to their seizures.

Interventions.
—Intracarotid amobarbital sodium procedure, Wada test, and electroencephalogram.

Main Outcome Measures.
—Behavioral observations made during the performance of the IAP.

Results.
—During the IAP, each patient's peri-ictal "personality" changes were precisely replicated. No seizure activity was noted during the IAPs.

Conclusions.
—These observations suggest that the association of multiple personality and temporolimbic epilepsy is not dependent on seizure discharges per se, but rather may be related to certain types of hemispheric interaction.

Author Affiliations
From the Behavioral Neurology Unit (Drs Ahern and Herring), Departments of Neurology (Drs Ahern, Herring, Oommen, and Labiner and Ms Tackenberg), Psychiatry (Dr Herring), Radiology (Dr Seeger), and Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery (Dr Weinand), University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication March 26, 1993.

Reprint requests to Behavioral Neurology Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724 (Dr Ahern).

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