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Psychologic and behavioral disturbance among epileptic children treated with barbiturate anticonvulsants
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|January 1, 1983
Insights
Barbiturate anticonvulsants may cause unexpected psychological and behavioral issues in epileptic children. Clinicians should consider these drugs as a potential factor when treating depression in epilepsy patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder.
- Anticonvulsant medications are standard treatment for epilepsy.
- Potential side effects of anticonvulsants require ongoing investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the psychologic and behavioral effects of barbiturate anticonvulsants in children with epilepsy.
- To determine if barbiturate anticonvulsants contribute to depression in epileptic patients.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of epileptic children undergoing treatment.
- Assessment of psychologic and behavioral changes in patients.
- Correlation analysis between barbiturate anticonvulsant use and depressive symptoms.
Main Results:
- Barbiturate anticonvulsants were associated with several unexpected psychologic and behavioral effects.
- A potential link between barbiturate anticonvulsant use and depression in epileptic children was observed.
Conclusions:
- Barbiturate anticonvulsants may have significant psychologic and behavioral side effects in children with epilepsy.
- Clinicians should consider barbiturate anticonvulsants as a potential contributing factor to depression in epileptic patients.
Abstract:
From their studies of epileptic children, the authors found that barbiturate anticonvulsants have several unexpected psychologic and behavioral effects. They suggest that clinicians dealing with depression in epileptic patients consider the possibility that barbiturate anticonvulsants may be a contributing factor.