Neuropsychological assessment for epileptic disease: From theory to practice

Neuropsychological assessment plays a vital role in the clinical management of patients with epilepsy. It is widely used in the preoperative evaluation to determine the functional risks of epilepsy surgery, and also contributes to the diagnosis of cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities.

We reviewed key domains of neuropsychological evaluation, including general intelligence, memory, cognitive and psychological functions, activities of daily living, social functioning, and the Wada test. Commonly used standardized scales and testing procedures were discussed in the context of their clinical relevance.

Neuropsychological assessment assists in diagnosing cognitive and behavioral comorbidities, evaluating treatment effects, guiding surgical decisions, and monitoring functional outcomes in epilepsy patients. Its findings are particularly valuable for localizing brain dysfunction, predicting postoperative outcomes, and informing multidisciplinary care strategies.

Neuropsychological assessment is an indispensable component of epilepsy care, providing objective data to support individualized treatment. While limitations exist, ongoing refinement of assessment tools and training standards holds promise for broader clinical impact and integration into precision medicine frameworks.