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Study of Attentional Processes in Children With Idiopathic Epilepsy by Conners' Continuous Performance Test

Department of Child Neurorehabilitation IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy, borgatti{at}bp.lnf.it, Department of Psychology Catholic University, Milan, Italy

Paolo Piccinelli, MD

Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit University of Insubria, Macchi Foundation Hospital, Varese, Italy

Rosario Montirosso, PhD

Department of Child Neurorehabilitation IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy

Gemma Donati, MD

Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit University of Insubria, Macchi Foundation Hospital, Varese, Italy

Alessandra Rampani, PhD

Department of Psychology Catholic University, Milan, Italy

Laura Molteni, PhD

Department of Psychology Catholic University, Milan, Italy

Annalisa Tofani, MD

Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit University of Insubria, Macchi Foundation Hospital, Varese, Italy

Francesca Nicoli, MD

Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit University of Insubria, Macchi Foundation Hospital, Varese, Italy

Claudio Zucca, MD

Department of Child Neurorehabilitation IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy

Nereo Bresolin, MD, PhD

Department of Child Neurorehabilitation IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy, Department of Neurology IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, "Centro Dino Ferrari", University of Milan, Italy

Umberto Balottin, MD, PhD

Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit University of Insubria, Macchi Foundation Hospital, Varese, Italy

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. (J Child Neurol 2004;19:509—515).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 19, No. 7, 509-515 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/08830738040190070601


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