title: Study of attentional processes in children with idiopathic epilepsy by Conners' Continuous Performance Test.
abstract: Before starting antiepilepsy therapy (T1) and after 1 year (T2), 19 children (7 female) affected by focal or generalized idiopathic epilepsy were considered with the aim of studying attention performance. All of the children received a neurological examination and clinical interview, electroencephalography (EEG) in wakefulness or sleep, and a standardized computerized measure of attention (Conners' Continuous Performance Test). At T1, 21% of the patients showed a specific attention disorder, and their percentage rose to 42% after 1 year, despite complete control of seizures. The prognosis was strongly correlated with (1) the presence of active seizures for a period of over 6 months, (2) the persistence of specific interictal abnormalities on an electroencephalogram at T2, and (3) the presence of emotional and behavioral disorders at the diagnosis of epilepsy. Our results confirm that attention disorders are frequent in children with idiopathic epilepsy. The Conners' Continuous Performance Test has proven useful both for diagnosis and follow-up over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy. borgatti@bp.lnf.it
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borgatti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piccinelli
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montirosso
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rampani
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tofani
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicoli
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zucca
authors.forename: Nereo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bresolin
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Balottin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics