title: Neuropsychological impairment in childhood absence epilepsy: Review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is a paediatric epilepsy syndrome characterized by typical absence seizures in school age children. Although it is commonly considered to have a good prognosis, with a good response to antiepileptic drugs, recent studies questioned this traditional view of a “benign” disorder, in particular regarding neuropsychological functioning. The aim of this study is to review the neuropsychological involvement in patients affected by CAE.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was carried out in PubMed's and Medline's databases for all relevant studies published between 1924 and 2014. The keywords used were neuropsychology, absence seizures, and CAE. Specific review articles, systematic reviews, textbooks and case reports were examined for any further publications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In intellectual functioning, CAE patients seem to perform worse than healthy children, even if their IQ scores fall within the normal range. Similarly, CAE seems to affect verbal skills and learning. Executive functions have been reported to be mildly impaired. Data regarding memory are still conflicting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the neuropsychological deficits in many CAE patients which significantly affect their quality of life, CAE should not be considered entirely “benign”. An early identification of neuropsychological dysfunction in CAE children is essential for appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: averrott@unich.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matricardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prezioso
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppola
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
keywords: Absence seizures; Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE); Cognitive function; General cognition; Neuropsychology