The impact of posttraumatic seizures on 1-year neuropsychological and psychosocial outcome of head injury.
This study examined the relationship of posttraumatic seizures and head injury severity to neuropsychological performance and psychosocial functioning in 210 adults who were prospectively followed and assessed 1 year after moderate to severe traumatic head injury. Eighteen percent (n = 38) of the patients experienced 1 or more late seizures (i.e., seizures occurring 8 or more days posttrauma) by the time of the 1-year followup. As expected, the head injured patients who experienced late posttraumatic seizures were those with the most severe head injuries, and they were significantly more impaired on the neuropsychological and psychosocial measures compared to those who remained seizure free. However, after the effects of head injury severity were controlled, there were no significant differences in neuropsychological and psychosocial outcome at 1 year as a function of having seizures. These findings suggest that worse outcomes in patients who develop posttraumatic seizures up to 1 year posttrauma largely reflect the effects of the brain injuries that cause seizures, rather than the effect of seizures.
Haltiner
A M
AM
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Temkin
N R
NR
Winn
H R
HR
Dikmen
S S
SS
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004834:Epilepsy, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012917:Social Adjustment
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010672:Phenytoin