Cognition, academic achievement, language, and psychopathology in pediatric chronic epilepsy: Short-term outcomes

Children with epilepsy and control children were followed over a 2-year interval. Comorbidities of epilepsy, often defined as problems related to IQ, academic achievement, language, and psychopathology, were evaluated prospectively. It was hypothesized that over time (1) the presence of comorbidities would predict worse outcomes, and (2) epilepsy variables would negatively impact comorbidities. The study included 39 children with complex partial seizures (CPS), 25 children with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), and 27 healthy children, aged 7.6–16.1 years. The findings were notable for stability over the interval in all three groups. Additionally, baseline seizure variables and change over the interval appear to play a role in IQ and math achievement scores of children with epilepsy with average IQ and in the reading achievement scores of those with below-average IQ. However, seizure variables at baseline and follow-up were not predictors of DSM-IV diagnoses, depression, anxiety, or behavioral problems.