RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cognitive and mood effects of phenobarbital treatment in people with epilepsy in rural China: a prospective study
JF Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
JO J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 1139
OP 1144
DO 10.1136/jnnp-2012-303042
VO 83
IS 12
A1 Ding Ding
A1 Qing Zhang
A1 Dong Zhou
A1 Weihong Lin
A1 Qingsheng Wu
A1 Jixin Sun
A1 Qianhua Zhao
A1 Peimin Yu
A1 Wenzhi Wang
A1 Jianzhong Wu
A1 Gail S Bell
A1 Patrick Kwan
A1 Hanneke M de Boer
A1 Shichuo Li
A1 Pamela J Thompson
A1 Zhen Hong
A1 Josemir W Sander
YR 2012
UL http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/83/12/1139.abstract
AB Background Phenobarbital is an effective treatment for epilepsy but concerns remain over its potential neurocognitive toxicity. This prospective study evaluated the effects of phenobarbital treatment on cognition and mood in people with epilepsy in rural China. Methods We recruited 144 adults with convulsive seizures and 144 healthy controls from six sites in rural China. People with epilepsy were treated with phenobarbital monotherapy for 12 months. At baseline, and at 3, 6 and 12 months, cases and controls were evaluated with a battery of neuropsychological tests: the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a digit span test, a verbal fluency test, an auditory verbal learning test and a digit cancellation test. Efficacy of phenobarbital treatment was evaluated at the end of follow-up for those with epilepsy. Results Cognitive test scores and mood ratings were available for 136 (94%) people with epilepsy and 137 (95%) controls at the 12 month follow-up. Both groups showed slightly improved performance on a number of neuropsychological measures. The people with epilepsy showed greater performance gains (p=0.012) in verbal fluency. Nine people with epilepsy complained of memory problems during the treatment period. Conclusion In this study, phenobarbital was not found to have a major negative impact on cognitive function of people with convulsive seizures and some cognitive gains were observed, possibly due to improved seizure control.