A new study published in the journal Epilepsia (International League Against Epilepsy) reveals that about one in five adults with epilepsy has manifestations of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The researchers of the study suggest that around 20% of patients who have epilepsy may have symptoms of ADHD, according to Dr. Allan B. Ettinger, director of the Epilepsy Center at Neurological Surgery, PC and professor of Clinical Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
This is the first time an association between the two disorders has been established. "Little was previously known about the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in adults with epilepsy, and the results were quite striking. To my knowledge, this is the first time ADHD symptoms in adults with epilepsy have been described in the scientific literature. Yet, the presence of these symptoms may have severe implications for patients' quality of life, mood, anxiety, and functioning in both their social and work lives," said Dr. Ettinger.
According to Medical News Today, researchers have conducted a survey nationally to adults with active epilepsy. Around 1,361 respondents were gathered from the survey which entails questions from the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale version 6 (ASRS-6), Physicians Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment 7 (GAD-7).
Aside from that, their seizure activity, anti-epileptic drugs, anxiety and depression were also collated and asked. As a result, 251 respondents (18.4%) who were experiencing manifestations of ADHD are more likely to also have depression. According to Dr. Ettinger, sometimes, physicians link symptoms of anxiety and depression to seizures, medications and other issues in the patient's nervous system. However, their new study says that ADHD can be the cause of such conditions.
"This study reinforces the fact that we have to broaden our view of what epilepsy entails. Our patients may also have psychiatric comorbidities, and screening for and treating these may make a great difference to patients in their family, school and work lives," he added.
