[Neuropsychiatric abnormalities and continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep syndrome: a case report].
Continuous spikes and waves during slow wave sleep syndrome (CSWS) is a seldom form of epilepsy which may manifest by neurocognitive and/or psychiatric abnormalities, with or without clinical seizures.


METHODS
A 5-year-old child was presented with a language disorder and behaviour abnormalities. A standard electroencephalograph (EEG) showed left tempororolandic spikes waves without any electrical discharges. Cerebral imaging excluded an underlying expansive disease. A continuous EEG recording revealed a CSWS syndrome by showing continuous and diffuse spike waves during slow wave sleep. Thanks to antiepileptic medications and orthophonic therapy, evolution was positive.


CONCLUSIONS
In complex cases of language and behavioural disorders, it is necessary to perform an EEG even in the absence of convulsive seizures, to diagnose a CSWS syndrome. Given the etiological and treatment difficulties concerning the CSWS, a treatment with antiepileptic seems necessary. EEG normalisation under antiepileptic medications usually leads to significant, although partial, neuropsychological improvement. Furthermore, orthophonic therapy seems useful as a complement to pharmacological treatment.
Ducuing
F
F
Service de psychopathologie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, hôpital Robert-Debré, AP-HP, 48, boulevard Serrurier, 75019 Paris, France.
LeHeuzey
M F
MF
Rouyer
V
V
Mouren-Simeoni
M C
MC
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013577:Syndrome
D000927:Anticonvulsants