Pretreatment cognitive deficits and treatment effects on attention in childhood absence epilepsy.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the neurocognitive deficits associated with newly diagnosed untreated childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), develop a model describing the factorial structure of items measuring academic achievement and 3 neuropsychological constructs, and determine short-term differential neuropsychological effects on attention among ethosuximide, valproic acid, and lamotrigine.

Methods

Subjects with newly diagnosed CAE entering a double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial had neuropsychological testing including assessments of general intellectual functioning, attention, memory, executive function, and achievement. Attention was reassessed at the week 16-20 visit.

Results

At study entry, 36% of the cohort exhibited attention deficits despite otherwise inta

SUBMITTER: Masur D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3806916 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature