Abstracts

Rationale: The relationship between neuropsychological performance and quality of life in Greek-Cypriot patients with temporal lobe epilepsy has not been systematically assessed so far. We hypothesized that chronic epilepsy affects several neurocognitive functions and results in reduction of executive and memory functioning which, in turn, influence parameters such as interpersonal relationships that affect quality of life. This study was part of a systematic research program exploring neuropsychological performance and quality of life issues. Methods: The primary objective of this study was to investigate verbal learning, working memory, and executive functioning abilities in Greek-Cypriots with TLE and correlate their findings with QOL issues. 30 Greek-Cypriot adults with temporal lobe epilepsy (ages 18-55) 22 with left-sided and 8 with right-sided focus, were matched to 25 neurologically normal adults on age, gender, and education levels. All participants with epilepsy were recruited from the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. A between group experimental design was used, assessing MMSE, Rey AVLT, Trail Making Tests A and B, Rey Complex Figure, Verbal Fluency, Digit Span Forward and Backward, Spatial Span Forward and Backward, Symbol Digit Modalities Test and the Logical Memory Test from the WMS-III. In addition, the QOL in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-89) and the World Health Organization QOL(WHOQOL-BREF) were used. Participants were also screened for global cognitive decline and clinical depression. Results: Mixed model MANOVA (a = .05) results indicated that the performance of participants with epilepsy was significantly lower than that of normal cohorts on repeated verbal learning tasks (RAVLT). Pairwise (a = .05) comparisons demonstrated that performance was lower on both verbal and non-verbal working memory measures, a = .05 (digit span forward/backwards, visual span forward/backwards, Rey Complex Figure Test, and paragraph recall immediate/delayed). In addition, performance was significantly lower (a = .05) on executive functioning and mental fluency tasks (COWAT, Symbol Digits Modalities Test, Trails A & B). Performance on executive tests correlated significantly (a=.05) with memory performance. In addition, there were significant differences in QOL dimensions relating to relationships. Conclusions: Results indicate that temporal lobe epilepsy hampers verbal learning and memory performance despite the focus of the epileptic activity. Furthermore, the reduction in executive functioning which interferes with the use of active memory strategies contributes to the memory impairment observed. From a quality of life standpoint, chronic epilepsy seems to influence important parameters such as interpersonal relationships.