Three to four years after diagnosis: cognition and behaviour in children with 'epilepsy only'. A prospective, controlled study.

摘要: A 3.5-year follow-up study of cognition and behaviour in 42 children with newly diagnosed idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy ('epilepsy only') attending mainstream education 30 healthy gender-matched classmate controls was carried out to identify differences between groups, detect factors that contribute the difference its change over time, establish proportion poorly performing children. The neuropsychological battery covered major domains cognition, mental motor speed academic language skills. Children were tested at time diagnosis (before any anti-epileptic drug treatment started) 3, 12 approximately months later. Parents teachers completed checklists, for which scoring adapted prevent influence epilepsy-related ambiguity. Based on parental interviews diagnosis, categorized as having longstanding behavioural and/or learning problems, belonging a troubled family, being exposed 'off-balance' parenting starting onset reacting maladaptively changes relation epilepsy. Throughout follow-up, group only performed less well than classmates measures learning, memory span words, attention behaviour. After controlling school delay, proactive interference (number responses same images trials, but now presented reordered locations) remaining variable distinguished only. Group-wise, no cognitive found, instability individual performances appeared characterize Rather intrinsically variables, such versus aetiology, seizure control treatment, child's prediagnostic histories parents' ability continue their habitual face shown by both group-wise case-by-case analyses be important understanding functioning