Changes in MMPI Scale Scores and an Index of Psychopathology following Unilateral Temporal Lobectomy for Epilepsy

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Abstract
SUMMARY: The direction and extent of change in personality functioning, as measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), were investigated longitudinally before and one year or more following unilateral temporal lobectomy for intractable psychomotor seizures. Although the pre‐ to postoperative changes were not sufficiently profound to postulate a major reorganization of personality functioning in these patients, selected scale scores consistently were observed to decline in the less psychopathological direction, especially on test measures for which schizoadaptive behavioral correlates have been established in psychiatric populations. These reductions were not conspicuously different after left as compared to right temporal lobectomy. However, the presence of bilateral preoperative EEG abnormalities was associated with higher initial MMPI scale elevations and greater scale score declines postoperatively. This was especially prevalent among patients with independent bitemporal EEG spike foci preoperatively.RÉASUMÉA: La direction et l'eAtendue des changements de la personnaliteA, aG l'aide de l'Inventaire de PersonnaliteA Multiphasique Minnesota (MMPI), ont ete explorees longitudinale‐ment avant et un an ou davantage apreGs lobotomie temporale unilateArale pour crises psychomotrices rebelles. Quoique les changements de la personnaliteA de ces patients, entre les peAriodes preA‐ et post‐opeAratoires, ne soient pas suffisamment profonds pour postuler une reAorganisation majeure de la personnaliteA, on observe que les scores de certaines eAchelles baissent de facLon constante dans une direction indiquant des troubles psychopathologiques moindres. Cet abaissement concerne plus particulieGrement les eAchelles pour lesquelles des correAlations avec le comportement schizoiUde ont eAteA eAtablies dans des populations psychiatriques. Ces modifications ne sont pas sensiblement diffeArentes apreGs lobotomie temporale droite ou gauche. Par contre, la preAsence d'anomalies eAlectroenceAphalographiques bilateArales sur l'E.E.G. avant intervention s'est trouveAe associeAe, d'une part, aux plus hauts scores initiaux du MMPI et, d'autre part, aux plus grandes diminutions apreGs l'opeAration. Ceci est particulieArement eAvident parmi les patients preAsentant aG l'E.E.G., avant intervention, des foyers de pointes bitemporales indeApendants.

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