title: LAM study: Effects of lacosamide on behaviour and quality of life in patients with epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychiatric comorbidities are common in epileptic patients, and evaluating the impact of antiepileptic drugs on patients' moods is therefore essential. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of lacosamide on behaviour and quality of life in people with epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a multicentre prospective observational study of poorly-controlled epileptic patients who received lacosamide as an adjuvant treatment. Patients were evaluated on 4 occasions during a 12-month period. The impact of lacosamide on patients' mood and quality of life was assessed with the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-10 (QOLIE-10), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). As a secondary objective, we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of lacosamide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 55 patients with a mean age of 47.1±18.4 years. At baseline, 34.5% of the patients had psychiatric comorbidities; the mean number of crises in the previous month was 3.6±4.3. The QOLIE-10 and HADS scales revealed statistically significant improvements in patients with a poor baseline condition (anxiety, depression, and/or poor quality of life). The BIS-11 scale detected no impulsive behaviour during follow-up. After 12 months of treatment, 51.9% of the patients were seizure-free and 77.8% experienced a reduction of at least 50% in seizure frequency. Adverse effects were mild in most cases; lacosamide was discontinued in 10 patients (18.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lacosamide is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with epilepsy and psychiatric comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: CIBER-BBN Grupo de Neuroingeniería Biomédica, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Alicante, España; Sección de Neurología, Hospital Vega Baja de Orihuela, Alicante, España. Electronic address: alfaro_ara@gva.es.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alfaro
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asensio
authors.affiliation: Sección de Neurología, Hospital IMED-Levante, Benidorm, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Escrivá
authors.affiliation: Sección de Neurología, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Elda, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Medrano
authors.affiliation: Sección de Neurología. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Salom
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tortosa
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palao
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Regionshospitalet Holstebro, Holstebro, Dinamarca.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lezcano
authors.affiliation: Sección de Neurología, Hospital de la Marina Baja, Villajoyosa, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berenguer
authors.affiliation: Sección de Neurología, Hospital Los Arcos del Mar Menor, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerdán
authors.affiliation: Sección de Neurología, Hospital Comarcal del Noroeste, Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Buendía
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Giner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000078334:Lacosamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000078334:Lacosamide
keywords: Ansiedad; Anxiety; Calidad de vida; Depresión; Depression; Epilepsia; Epilepsy; Impulsiveness; Impulsividad; Lacosamida; Lacosamide; Quality of life