Patient's question:
The child is 7 years old and was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2010. Currently, they are taking Depakote. Seizure and fall control. However, since getting epilepsy, there have been ongoing mental issues. Symptoms: impulsivity, hyperactivity, attention deficit, staring blankly at people, running wildly when encountering certain people or in a new environment, being very excited, somewhat obsessive thinking, feeling the need to do whatever they think of, extreme restlessness, confused thinking, unclear mental state, intellectual disability, logical and communication problems, abnormal behavior, and appears to have mental issues.Doctor's answer:
Clinically, epilepsy can be accompanied by mental disorders, or it can be a mental disorder caused by epilepsy. Epilepsy-related mental disorders manifest in diverse forms, broadly categorized into two types: episodic and persistent. The former can occur before, during, or after an epileptic seizure, becoming part of the seizure or occurring as a standalone episode. The main manifestations include sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and psychomotor symptoms within a certain period, as well as emotional distress and transient schizoid-like episodes. These episodes are characterized by suddenness, brevity, and recurrence. Persistent mental disorders may develop years after epilepsy onset, primarily manifesting as chronic schizoid-like disorders, personality changes, and intellectual impairments, among others. It has been reported that 25.27% of epilepsy patients with significant mental disorders exhibit such conditions. If there are obsessive symptoms, symptomatic treatment can be administered, such as adding ant medications, based on personal experience. The emotions of parents may also influence the child's symptoms, so support for parents is crucial. If you have the opportunity to visit Beijing, you can come to our hospital's pediatric clinic to see us.