Psychosocial complications in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Psychosocial complications in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2018 Dec 07;90:122-128 Authors: Syvertsen M, Selmer K, Enger U, Nakken KO, Pal DK, Smith A, Koht J Abstract Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) constitutes about 10% of all epilepsies. Because of executive dysfunction, people with JME may be prone to impulsivity and risk-taking behavior. Our aim was to investigate whether psychosocial issues associated with impulsivity are more prominent in people with JME than in those with other types of genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE). Patients with GGE were recruited retrospectively through the Drammen Hospital records in Buskerud County, Norway, 1999-2013. They were invited to a semi-structured interview, either at the hospital or at home. Ninety-two patients with JME and 45 with other types of GGE were interviewed. Variables were evaluated in terms of their association with JME versus other GGE diagnosis using a logistic regression model. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy was associated with use of illicit recreational drugs and police charges, although with borderline significance (odds ratio [OR] 3.4, p = 0.087 and OR 4.2, p = 0.095); JME was also associated with being examined for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in females (OR 15.5, p = 0.015), a biological parent with challenges like addiction or violent behavior (OR 3.5, p = 0.032), and use of levetiracetam (OR 5.1, p = 0.014). After c...
Source: Epilepsy and Behaviour - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Epilepsy Behav Source Type: research