Study of Attentional Processes in Children With Idiopathic Epilepsy by Conners' Continuous Performance Test

Abstract

Before starting antiepilepsy therapy (T1) and after 1 year (T2), 19 children (7 female) affected by focal or generalized idiopathic epilepsy were considered with the aim of studying attention performance. All of the children received a neurological examination and clinical interview, electroencephalography (EEG) in wakefulness or sleep, and a standardized computerized measure of attention (Conners' Continuous Performance Test). At T1, 21% of the patients showed a specific attention disorder, and their percentage rose to 42% after 1 year, despite complete control of seizures. The prognosis was strongly correlated with (1) the presence of active seizures for a period of over 6 months, (2) the persistence of specific interictal abnormalities on an electroencephalogram at T2, and (3) the presence of emotional and behavioral disorders at the diagnosis of epilepsy. Our results confirm that attention disorders are frequent in children with idiopathic epilepsy. The Conners' Continuous Performance Test has proven useful both for diagnosis and follow-up over time.

ADHD in idiopathic epilepsy

“…This discrepancy between our study and others' is probably due to the different inclusion criteria, because we included only patients with idiopathic epileptic syndromes and other authors included patients with all types of epilepsy 6 , recently-diagnosed epilepsy 4 or even uncontrolled patients 6,24 . Our findings match with other studies that show that infrequent seizures and well-controlled patients on monotherapy are important variables to predict lower rates of ADHD symptoms and behavioral abnormalities 8,10 . Moreover, we did not find a positive correlation between clinical epilepsy variables and the occurrence of ADHD symptoms as described by others [8][9][10][11][12] .…”

“…Our findings match with other studies that show that infrequent seizures and well-controlled patients on monotherapy are important variables to predict lower rates of ADHD symptoms and behavioral abnormalities 8,10 . Moreover, we did not find a positive correlation between clinical epilepsy variables and the occurrence of ADHD symptoms as described by others [8][9][10][11][12] . This is probably due to the benignity of our sample.…”

“…Etiology, duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency, seizure control, and the use of antiepileptic drugs are important varia bles related to neuropsychological and behavioural problems in patients with epilepsy and ADHD. It seems that patients with idiopathic epilepsy presenting with few seizures or who are seizure-free with monotherapy have a low frequency of neuropsychological and behavioral problems [8][9][10][11][12] . Epileptiform discharges, particularly during the active phase of the epilepsy, are also an important variable when neuropsychology and behavior are concerned 6,8,11 .…”

Academic performance in children with rolandic epilepsy

“…Unlike other studies, 17,18 we did not find hyperactive-impulsive conduct but merely slowness and easy fatigue, as reported in a previous work. 19 In conclusion, as SLD was found in 45% of our patients with RE, we suggest that a detailed and systematic evaluation of learning skills and behaviours in children with this epileptic syndrome can prove valuable. Subtle deficits in reading, writing, or calculation may be detected only by specific neuropsychological testing.…”

Possíveis interfaces entre TDAH e epilepsia

“…Quanto à localização do foco epileptógeno, alguns estudos observaram um risco maior de TDAH em pacientes com epilepsia do lobo frontal 50,51 , enquanto outros, uma prevalência maior em portadores de foco temporal [52][53][54] . Estudos epidemiológicos que incluíram uma casuística maior não encontraram associação entre a localização do foco e a presença de TDAH 6,17 .…”