[Children and adolescents with epilepsy. Cognitive abilities, learning disorders and depression]

The authors studied some psychological and psychopathological problems in epileptic children and adolescents. 47 cases (range 6.6-16 ys), with well controlled seizures and learning difficulties, have been examined and compared with 80 children and adolescents with learning disorders. The analysis of anamnestic data about early minimal brain damage (MBD) differentiated 4 groups: with an without epilepsy, with and without MBD. Psychodiagnostic evaluation showed: normal cognitive abilities and sectorial neuropsychological dysfunction connected with MBD, more evident if epilepsy is associated with MBD. Depression is frequently noticed: 74% of epileptic patients, 52% of non-epileptic patients. The depression symptoms are similar in these 2 groups and above all sustained by psychogenic pathogenesis. The authors conclude with a critical reflection on prejudices regarding children and adolescents with epilepsy.