Abstracts

The incidence of behavioral and psycho-social problems in epilepsy children is known to be 5-6 times higher than normal. This study is subjected to reveal the influence of topiramate on behavioral and psycho-social outcome in the treatment of epilepsy children 233 patients (male,121; female,112 and mean age[plusmn]SD, 8.4[plusmn]3.8 year) are enrolled in this study from 22 medical centers in Korea. Topiramate was added and titrated for up to 3 months starting with 1 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks with increment of 1 mg/kg/day for 1-2 weeks as tolerated with maximal doses up to 9 mg/kg/day. The psycho-behavioral batteries {Korean Child Behavior Check List (K-CBCL), Yale Children[apos]s Inventory (YCI), Children[apos]s Depression Inventory (CDI), Family Environment Scale (FES), Piers-Harris Children[rsquo]s Self Concept Scale(PCSCS)} were used for assessment at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months after starting topiramte. The seizure frequency at 1 year after topiramate treatment was decreased; more than 50%, 79% (seizure free, 51.5%); 25-50%, 8.7%; no change, 11.4%; worsening, 0.9%. The anti-epileptic efficacy of topiramate was inversely correlated with DOI (p[lt]0.001). The adverse effects of topiramate were noticed in 6.2%, which were fatigue, vertigo, and weight loss, etc. In the K-CBCL, total behavior problem (p[lt]0.01) and internalizing behavior problem (p[lt]0.05) were significantly improved at 1 year after topiramate treatment. Total and internalizing behavior scores were significantly improved in patients with higher seizure frequency and the patients whose seizures were significantly improved after topiramate(p[lt]0.05). There were no significant changes in YCI, CDI, FES and PHSCS. The add-on use of topiramate was quite effective in controlling seizures and improving behavioral, and psycho-social outcome in pediatric epilepsy children. (Supported by JANSSEN KOREA CO.)