Publication

Abstract : Adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs are considered by patients to be at least as important as repetitive seizures in terms of quality of life. Antiepileptic drugs induced toxicity is frequent and contributes to a high proportion of treatment failures. Cognitive impairment is the common adverse effect seen with antiepileptic drugs that directly affects the quality of life of the patients. So it is important to compare the cognitive function of epileptic patients with antiepileptic drugs and without antiepileptic drugs. Study was carried out in 100 bedded Private Neuro hospital for the period of six months. All type of epileptic patients (ambulatory patients) was included in this study to compare Cognitive functions. Epileptic with any other co-morbid condition and Children (below 13yrs) and tumor were excluded from the study. Mini mental status examination and WAIS-R test has been performed in the study population. The total number of epileptic patients were included in the study site during study period were found to be 200.The study population divided into two groups i.e. Group A- Newly diagnosed epileptic patients and Group B- Epileptic patients with antiepileptic drug treatment. Gender distribution of the study population indicates a predominant male population in both Group A (58%) and Group B (56%). The average age of the overall study population was found to be 26.23±13.73 (13-65) years and 25.26 ±14.76 (13-64) in Group A and Group B respectively. The investigation was made to compare the cognitive level between Group A and Group B and the result indicates that poor cognitive performance by the Group B (Epileptic patients under treatment with Antiepileptic drugs for at least one year) and better cognitive performance by the Group A (Newly diagnosed Epileptic patients). P value is <0.001 in all Mini mental status examination and WAIS-R test. It shows there is significant difference between the Group A and Group B in Cognitive level. This study recommends that a systematic and careful monitoring of cognitive function should be performed in the management of epilepsy in order to achieve the quality of life in epileptic patients.