title: Cognitive function and anticonvulsant therapy: effect of monotherapy in epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of antiepileptic drugs (AED) on cognitive function was studied in 87 patients with epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group A: (n = 52) started AED treatment (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, sodium-valproate, phenobarbital or phenytoin). Group B: (n = 27) had AED monotherapy withdrawn (carbamazepine or sodium-valproate). Group C: (n = 8) was switched from phenytoin to carbamazepine monotherapy. The patients were tested before and 4 months after change of the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A the test performances were in general unchanged. Patients who had their drug treatment withdrawn (group B) and the patients who were switched from phenytoin to carbamazepine (group C) improved in single tests. The predominant changes in performance seem to be due to practice effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive functions are only minimally influenced by AEDs after short-term treatment whereas there is a slight improvement after discontinuation of long-term administration of carbamazepine and valproate. A lack of practice effect might be the first indicator of a negative effect of AED on cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Neurology, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smed
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arlien-Søborg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buchman
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boesen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dam
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Lyon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants