Cognitive and emotional impairments in childhood absence epilepsy

Background. Cognitive impairments in epilepsy develop under the influence of a complex interplay of interrelated factors, including age at disease onset, seizure frequency and duration, as well as the use of antiseizure medications. Their objective assessment is complicated by the heterogeneity of methodological approaches and the diversity of neuropsychological instruments employed an issue that is particularly relevant in pediatric populations.

Aim. To determine the nature and severity of cognitive and emotional-behavioral impairments in children and adolescents with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) using age-appropriate psychodiagnostic instruments.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of follow-up data from 70 patients with CAE was conducted. The cohort included children with active absence seizures, patients undergoing routine clinical follow-up, and individuals in sustained medication-induced remission. The study also included 34 healthy volunteers. The following psychodiagnostic methods were used: the Digit Span test, the Stroop test, and M.A. Panfilova’s “Cactus” graphic method in the 4–12 age subgroup; the Trail Making Test, the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment, and the “Well-being, Activity, Mood” questionnaire in the 12–18 age subgroup.

Results. The identified cognitive impairments in children and adolescents with CAE across both age subgroups predominantly involved memory, attention, and executive thinking processes. In the emotional and personality domains, reduced levels of subjective well-being and activity were observed, along with difficulties in social adaptation and the presence of somatic complaints.

Conclusion. The presence of neuropsychological impairments in patients both during the active phase of the disease and during clinical remission indicates that CAE may be accompanied by disturbances in cognitive and emotional-volitional functioning, which may significantly reduce patients’ quality of life.