Neuropsychological correlates of anticonvulsants and epileptiform discharges in adult epileptics.

Neuropsychological correlates of anticonvulsants and of EEG epileptiform discharges were examined through the administration of neuropsychological measures to groups of adult epileptics. Among the anticonvulsants, performances with high and low serum phenytoin levels were compared and performances with sulthiame vs. phenytoin and carbamazepine vs. phenytoin were evaluated. Various drug effects from these studies were noted and there was some suggestion that the neuropsychological impacts of specific anticonvulsants may be selective rather than general. The neuropsychological correlates of the topographic distribution and average rate of occurrence of discharges were considered. Striking neuropsychological correlates were found with the poorest performances in connection with discharges which were generalized and those which were at a rate greater than 1/min. The importance of using a broad range of neuropsychological measures was stressed.