Psychiatric adverse events in patients with epilepsy and learning disabilities taking levetiracetam

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence and psychopathological features of psychiatric adverse events (PAEs) in patients with learning disabilities (LD) in therapy with levetiracetam (LEV). Method: From a population of 517 consecutively patients with epilepsy started on LEV, we identified 118 patients with epilepsy and LD. Results: Fifteen patients (12.7%) experienced PAEs during LEV therapy. Two (1.7%) developed an affective disorder, nine (7.6%) aggressive behaviour, two (1.7%) emotion lability and two (1.7%) other personality changes such as agitation, anger and hostile behaviour. We observed a significant association with a previous history of status epilepticus and a previous psychiatric history. We did not find a statistically significant association with epilepsy diagnosis, age at onset or duration of the epilepsy, EEG or MRI features. The titration schedule of LEV appeared not to be relevant. Conclusions: LEV therapy was well tolerated in patients with epilepsy and LD and the main problems were related to aggressive behaviour. The titration schedule of LEV was not relevant and a subgroup of patients appeared to be biologically more vulnerable.