Strong Link Between Epilepsy and Schizophrenia Found

A new study seems to show a link between epilepsy and schizophrenia. The report by research teams in Taiwan states that people with schizophrenia are six times more likely to also have epilepsy than the rest of the population.

The report claims that the link is a strong one but they are not sure what causes it. The link could be influenced by environmental, neurobiological or genetic issues.

The researchers write about their work in the latest edition of Epilepsia.

The study is thought to be scientifically sound as it followed over 16,000 patients with epilepsy and schizophrenia over a nine year period. The research was undertaken by researchers at the China Medical University Hospital in Taichung.

The scientists believe that the link is a two way rather than one way process. They also found that more men than women were likely to develop both diseases.

Dr I-Ching Chou from the research team said: "Our research results show a strong bidirectional relation between schizophrenia and epilepsy. This relationship may be due to common pathogenesis in these diseases such as genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, but further investigation of the pathological mechanisms are needed."

More on the relationship between epilepsy and schizophrenia from these sources:

Science Daily

BBC News