Cognitive functioning in children with both epilepsy and ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit a known bidirectional association in children.
• Comorbid neurodevelopmental conditions can significantly impact cognitive functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the neuropsychological functioning of children with comorbid epilepsy and ADHD.
• To compare cognitive outcomes in children with epilepsy and ADHD against those with epilepsy alone, ADHD alone, and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across two databases.
• Inclusion of 22 observational studies comparing neuropsychological outcomes.
• Neuropsychological data organized according to the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) taxonomy.
• Random effects meta-analyses to determine effect sizes.

Main Results:

• Children with epilepsy and ADHD showed poorer cognitive outcomes compared to children with epilepsy alone or ADHD alone (SMD -0.30 to -0.72).
• Compared to healthy controls, children with comorbid epilepsy and ADHD exhibited moderate to large effect sizes for cognitive deficits (SMD -0.61 to -1.12).
• Wide and overlapping confidence intervals indicated a heterogeneous neuropsychological profile in this group.

Conclusions:

• Children with comorbid epilepsy and ADHD present with significant cognitive dysfunction.
• The findings highlight the vulnerability of cognitive function in children with co-occurring neurobehavioral conditions.
• Emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and tailored interventions for affected children.