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Retrieval Impairment in Generalized Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy and Complex Partial Epilepsy

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Many epileptic patients complain of poor memory, especially those with complex partial seizures. Memory in epilepsy is reportedly influenced by several factors like seizure type, seizure frequency, age at onset of epilepsy, anti-epileptic medication, etc. However, the available data are somewhat confusing and do not provide any clear answers. In order to evaluate retrieval in epileptic patients the Selective Reminding Test was used in 44 epilepsy patients (30 with generalized tonicclonic epilepsy and 14 with partial complex epilepsy) who were treated in the outpatient clinic of the Department of Neurology of the Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital during one year period (1993-1994). All subjects had passed elementary school, were without severe brain damage, had their last seizure more than 24 hours ago and only take one anti-epileptic drug (phenobarbital). Retrieval impairment was analyzed with respect to the following variables : seizure type, seizure frequency, age at onset and drug dose. In subjects with impaired retrieval the memory process were analyzed. Impaired retrieval was found in most subjects (75 percent). The mean retrieval scores were 7.77 for subjects with generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy and 8.36 for subjects with partial complex epilepsy. There is no correlation between seizure type and retrieval (t test). Most subjects had low frequency seizures, but mean retrieval scores were impaired both in the high frequency (71 percent) and the low frequency (68 percent) group (not significant with chi-square test). Although it was statistically not significant there was a tendency that the greatest retrieval impairment was in the group with early age at onset (less than 10 years). Although most subjects had low doses of phenobarbital, most of them had impaired retrieval. There is no correlation between drug dose and retrieval (chi-square). In analyzing the impaired memory processes although there was little difference in the initial storage and retrieval in both types of epilepsy, the storage/retrieval (S/R) ratio were better in complex partial epilepsy (0.5 or less than) in generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy (more than 0.5). In complex partial epilepsy initial storage occured earlier. Most epilepsy patients had impaired retrieval; and it was not influenced by seizure type, seizure frequency, age at onset and anti-epileptic drug done. Impaired retrieval in epilepsy is probably caused by disturbance of attention.

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Medical Journal of Indonesia,5(4)1996:242-249

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: ., 1996

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epilepsy

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