Acute postictal confusion and violence: Two cases with unfortunate outcomes

Abstract Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often have a brief postictal state characterized by confusion and disorientation. Less common postictal behaviors include wandering and violence — both reactive and spontaneous. We describe two male patients with left TLE and unusual postictal states that led to unfortunate outcomes. The first patient's postictal state included an intense urge to peregrinate, as well as reactive violence. When a frightened houseguest prevented the patient from exiting his bedroom during a postictal state, the patient climbed out the window and fell to his death. The second patient's postictal state included menacing posturing, loud exclamation of guttural sounds or profanities, clapping or smacking his hands together, and punching nearby objects. During a postictal state at home, he grabbed a bat and destroyed furnishings. After he had two seizures at work followed by his typical postictal state, he was dismissed because of his perceived threat to coworkers.