Children of school age: the influence of antiepileptic drugs on behavior and intellect.

The role of antiepileptic drugs in behavior and cognitive function in children is well documented in the literature. In general, behavioral problems occur most frequently with phenobarbital and clonazepam, and appear least often with valproate and carbamazepine. Cognitive impairments occur with phenytoin, are less evident with valproate, and minimal with carbamazepine. Monotherapy, as with adults, leads to improvements in both cognitive abilities and behavior.