EFFECTS OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY IN A SCHOOL-AGED CHILD WITH AUTOIMMUNE DRUG-RESISTANT EPILEPSY: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The aim of this article is to present the effects of neuropsychological therapy of a school-aged child diagnosed with autoimmune drug-resistant epilepsy. Material and methods: A battery of neuropsychological and clinical tests, an interview with the patient’s mother, observational data, and the results of previous psychological and medical tests were used to provide a neuropsychological diagnosis of an 8-year-old girl. The diagnosis was performed twice: before and after a year of neuropsychological therapy. The therapy program was based on the assumptions of microgenetic symptom theory (Brown & Pąchalska 2003), which aims at improving intellectual, visuospatial, and executive functions, as well as improving the emotional - social processes. The patient’s intellectual functions significantly improved: in 2017, the quotient of fluid intelligence ranged from light intellectual disability to lower than average. Currently, the IQ ranges from lower than average to average. Improvements also took place in the following areas: motor and constructional praxis, capacity of direct auditory memory, visuomotor coordination, spatial orientation, visual searching, and some executive functions. Other cognitive processes did not change, while an increase in the difficulty in switching attention from one task to another was observed. Neuropsychological therapy conducted in accordance with the theoretical assumptions of neuropsychology proved effective. We consider that neuropsychological therapy should be continued while new goals are established.