Cognitive impairments in patients with treatment resistant epilepsy and complex rehabilitation

Abstract

Background. The study of features of comorbid pathology in patients with epilepsy is of particular interest due to the high prevalence of this pathology and a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and their social adaptation. Aim. The aim of the research was to detect versatile cognitive impairments and affective disorders in epilepsy, and to study the results of cognitive training and psychoeducation. Materials and methods. The theoretical analysis of modern scientific researches in the field of cognitive and affective impairments during epilepsy was carried out. We studied the features of clinical and psychopathological manifestations in patients, suffering from epilepsy. The study covered 146patients (85 men and 61 women) who were in inpatient care. The following psychodiagnostic techniques were used: the MOCA test, the Toronto Cognitive Assessment (TorCA), the MiniMult test, the Münsterberg test, the quality of life scale, the Hamilton scale of depression and anxiety. Results. This publication offers the results of a study of cognitive and affective disorders the quality of life in patients who suffer from epilepsy and the results of online cognitive training and psychoeducation. We found cognitive decline in 88% of patients with epilepsy and improvement of cognitive functions by methods of non-pharmacological correction. Conclusions. Affective and cognitive disorders significantly affects the quality of life of patients, their ability to work and socialization. The conducted research showed that compared to the control group of healthy persons, patients with epilepsy showed improvement in their cognitive decline, anxiety and depressive disorders. Cognitive online training appeared to be effective for the patients with epilepsy.