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The influence of levetiracetam on psychosocial and behavioral functioning in children: A case-control and follow-up

Gonca Bektaş1, Uğur Tekin2, Melis Ulak Özkan1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
|June 3, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Levetiracetam (an antiepileptic drug) did not show frequent psychosocial or behavioral side effects in children compared to valproic acid over 3 months. Most children experienced no significant issues, indicating a favorable safety profile for levetiracetam in pediatric epilepsy treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Levetiracetam (LEV) is a common antiepileptic drug (AED) for pediatric epilepsy.
  • Previous studies suggest LEV may be linked to psychosocial and behavioral problems in children.
  • Epilepsy characteristics like seizure frequency and duration can also influence these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the incidence and timing of treatment-emergent psychosocial and behavioral problems in children treated with LEV.
  • To evaluate these problems independently of potential confounding epilepsy variables.
  • To compare LEV with another AED, valproic acid (VPA), in terms of behavioral outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, 3-month case-control study included children aged 6-16 years with new-onset partial seizures.
  • Participants were randomized to receive either LEV or VPA.
  • Psychosocial and behavioral functioning were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) at baseline and at 1 and 3 months.

Main Results:

  • 101 children were analyzed: 32 on LEV, 19 on VPA, and 50 healthy controls.
  • No significant baseline differences in SDQ or CDI scores were found between patients and controls.
  • No statistically significant differences in CDI or SDQ scores were observed between the LEV and VPA groups throughout the study.
  • One patient on LEV experienced suicidal ideation and depression, which resolved upon switching to VPA; no other psychiatric side effects were noted.

Conclusions:

  • Treatment-emergent psychosocial and behavioral side effects associated with levetiracetam are not frequent in children, especially at lower doses.
  • After 3 months of treatment, standardized instruments did not reveal significant differences in behavioral outcomes between levetiracetam and valproic acid groups.
  • Levetiracetam appears to have a generally favorable psychosocial and behavioral safety profile in pediatric epilepsy patients compared to valproic acid.
Abstract

Keywords:
BehaviorChildNeuropsychologySeizuresTherapeutics

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