Epilepsy or a family history of epilepsy increases the risk of schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like psychosis.

MAIN RESULTS People with a history of epilepsy were about two to three times more likely to develop schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like psychosis than people who had never had epilepsy (see http://www.ebmental health.com/supplemental for table). This effect did not differ according to type of epilepsy. The later the onset of epilepsy the greater the increase in risk of psychosis (schizophrenia p,0.01; schizophrenia-like psychosis p,0.04). A family history of epilepsy or psychosis also increased the risk of developing schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like psychosis (see web table). CONCLUSIONS A history of epilepsy or a family history of either psychosis or epilepsy increases the risk of schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like psychosis.