[Social cognition and cognitive functions in patients with epilepsy treated with eslicarbazepine acetate]

Epilepsy is accompanied by cognitive disorders, frequently aggravated by the use of antiepileptic drugs, which can affect social empathy.

To analyse the impact of treatment with eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) on social cognition and prefrontal cognitive functions in adults with focal epilepsy.

We conducted a prospective single-centre study with patients aged between 18 and 65 years with focal seizures treated with ESL. The patients were evaluated in their baseline visit and at six months after starting ESL treatment by means of tasks designed for theory of mind, executive and attentional functions, auditory-verbal memory, quality of life, and anxiety and depression.

Forty-one patients were treated with ESL, and 30 completed the follow-up. A significant improvement was observed in the theory of mind tasks. In the analysis stratified by sex, the men showed greater improvement. A cognitive improvement was observed in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Symbol Digit, Backward Digit Span and Stroop tests. No differences were found in the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 Inventory or in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. These results were independent of the reduction in the number of seizures and the ESL dosage.

Treatment with ESL could improve some aspects of theory of mind in patients with epilepsy, especially in men and independently of the control of seizures, with no changes in quality of life, anxiety or depression.