Cognitive profile of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy based on clinical variability

The present research was conducted with the aim to examine the relationship between clinical variables of epilepsy and cognitive disorders of patients with drug-resistantepilepsy(DRE). From among patients with DRE who had a medical record in Ardabil Welfare Organization, Ardabil, Iran, ۳۵ participants aged between ۲۰ and ۳۵ years old, filled out the questionnaire related to demographic and clinical variables in the summer of ۲۰۱۷. Furthermore, to examine cognitive performance, the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test were employed. Patients who had emotional turmoil scores higher than ۲۸ (cut-off point) were excluded from the study. Data were analyzed using correlation test and simultaneous regression analysis in SPSS software. The results revealed a significant correlation between clinical variables and cognitive performance. Additionally, based on the obtained regression coefficients, disease duration (p = ۰.۳۵) did not have a significant role in predicting memory performance. However, seizure frequency (p = ۰.۰۱), number of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) consumed (p = ۰.۰۳), and age at the onset of seizure (p = ۰.۰۱) had significant roles in predicting the memory performance. The results also revealed that disease duration (p = ۰.۴۷), seizure frequency (p = ۰.۷۰), and age at the onset of seizure (p = ۰.۰۶) had no significant role in predicting the executive function. Nevertheless, the number of AEDs consumed (p = ۰.۰۲) had a significant role in predicting the executive function. Clinical factors of epilepsy had a role in predicting cognitive performance of the patients

Keywords:

cognitive function , Durg-resistant epilepsy , Disease duration , Seizure frequency , Anti-epileptic drugs