Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and epilepsy

Mulas F, Tellez de Meneses M, Hernandez-Muela S, Mattos L, Pitarch I.

Instituto Valenciano de Neurologia Pediatrica (INVANEP), Valencia, Spain. fmulasd@meditex.es

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is currently one of the morbid clinical pictures in childhood and adolescence that is most frequently diagnosed in the Neuropaediatric clinic. DEVELOPMENT: ADHD is sometimes associated to other important neurological problems, such as behavioural disorders, tics or headaches, and may occasionally be related to epilepsy, although in this particular case the epileptic syndromes often involve disorders affecting behaviour and attention. Due to the frequent association of these disorders (epilepsy and ADHD) it is wise to perform an electroencephalographic study in patients who visit because of symptoms of disattention. Likewise, the neuropsychological assessment of epileptic children must not be neglected. We analyse the therapeutic options regarding the use of stimulants when both disorders coexist and we endorse the association of antiepileptic and psychostimulant drugs when necessary.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15264172&query_hl=4&itool=pubmed_docsum