title: Benign epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spikes (BECTS) versus migraine: a neuropsychological assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epilepsy and migraine frequently show a clinical overlap. An increase in number of electroencephalographic abnormalities, such as centro-temporal spikes (CTS), may be observed in patients suffering from migraine, epileptic abnormalities that are typically in benign epilepsy of childhood with CTS (BECTS). The aim of this study is to better define the role of CTS in children with migraine compared to children with BECTS, in relation with their neuropsychological profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two children were enrolled and divided into three groups on the basis of their diagnosis: 16 children (eight males and eight females, aged 12.3 ± 2.58 years) affected by BECTS, 8 patients (four males and four females, aged 11.8 ± 3.47 years) affected by BECTS and migraine, and 8 children (four males and four females, aged 13.5 ± 1.79 years) affected by migraine showing CTS abnormalities. A cognitive and neuropsychological assessment was performed, using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-third edition and NEPSY II, in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A similar neuropsychological impairment was found in patients affected by BECTS and in those affected by BECTS and migraine; a significant deficit in short- and long-term verbal memory was evident in patients affected by migraine and CTS. CTS in patients with migraine can influence the neuropsychological tests, with a possible negative impact on language and learning development.
authors.affiliation: Child Neurology, NESMOS Dept., Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039, Rome 00189, Italy. parpas@iol.it
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matricardi
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tozzi
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sechi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D032882:Comprehension; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004569:Electroencephalography; D019305:Epilepsy, Rolandic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013060:Speech; D014888:Wechsler Scales