Neuropsychological assessment in refractory temporal lobe epilepsy

Abstract

Background: Approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy are medically refractory to conventional antiepileptic pharmacotherapy. In these patients, recurrent seizure and side effects of drugs interfere with the patient's quality of life and can cause cognitive and behavioral deficits. Neuropsychological assessment plays a vital role in any comprehensive epilepsy program. Methods: We tried to find the most applicable neuropsychological assessments with high validity, reliability by reviewing valid references. Findings: The Wechsler adult intelligence scale, the Wechsler memory scale- III, Verbal learning test, Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test, Verbal fluency and naming tests, Design fluency test, Continuous performance test, Trail making A and B, Finger tapping, and Grooved pegboard test are of the most applicable tests. Conclusion: Neuropsychological assessment of patients with refractory epilepsy is a complementary section of any Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Findings of these assessments may have great role for treatment plan and prediction of cognitive conse.