Neuropsychological Assessment in Refractory Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Abstract

Background: Approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy are medically refractory to conventional antiepileptic pharmacotherapy. In these patients, recurrent seizure and side effects of drugs interfere with the patient`s quality of life and can cause cognitive and behavioral deficits. Neuropsychological assessment plays a vital role in any comprehensive epilepsy program. Methods: We tried to find the most applicable neuropsychological assessments with high validity, reliability by reviewing valid references. Findings: The Wechsler adult intelligence scale, the Wechsler memory scale– III, Verbal learning test, Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test, Verbal fluency and naming tests, Design fluency test, Continuous performance test, Trail making A and B, Finger tapping, and Grooved pegboard test are of the most applicable tests. Conclusion: Neuropsychological assessment of patients with refractory epilepsy is a complementary section of any Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Findings of these assessments may have great role for treatment plan and prediction of cognitive conse.

Keywords

• Neuropsychology
• Temporal lobe epilepsy
• Cognitive
• Memory