The mother of an epileptic son complains of her son periodically presenting with irritable depression, when he becomes excited and prone to physical agression and violence. These moods last for 5-10 minutes, after which the patient exhausts himself and falls asleep. Upon waking he is depressed, sad, cannot recall his actions or recalls them only partially. What psychopathologic condition is it?

Answer options

1. Dysthymia
2. Ambulatory automatism
3. Epileptic delirium
4. Pathologic affect
5. Dysphoria

Explanation

This task presents a clinical case of epilepsy, which is manifested, inter alia, with the equivalents of epileptic seizures. They occur periodically, with a duration of 5-10 minutes. After them, sleep occurs, accompanies by partial amnesia and other symptoms (depression, sadness). This psychopathological phenomenon is represented by dysphoria, as irritable depression, excitement, physical aggression, and violence. Psychiatry: [Textbook] V.L. Gavenko, V.M. Sinayko, G.A. Samardakova and others; reduction by V.L. Gavenko, – Kharkiv: Region-inform, 2006. – 66, 200 – 201 P.