Abstract
In order to assess the severity of subjective memory deficits after temporal lobe resection for epilepsy, 132-item questionnaire was developed. We surveyed in 27 patients operated on on the dominant side (group d), 29 patients operated on on the non-dominant side (group nd), and 15 control subjects (group c). The control subjects were matched with respect to age. Patients in group d, particularly male patients, had more memory deficits than those in group c. Some patients in group nd experienced memory improvements after surgery. No correlation was found between the subjective memory deficit scores and the results of objective memory tests, doses of medication, or extent of resection, However, a significant correlation was found between introspective-neurotic personality traits and the severity of subjective memory deficits after surgery. In summary, resection on the dominant side and neurotic personality traits influenced awareness of memory deficits after surgery in this cohort of temporal lobe surgery recipients.
