Internationale Zeitschrift für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation
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Treatment of Attention Deficit in a Patient with Intractable Daily Seizures: A Case Report

Moody EL and Ivanhoe CB

Individuals with epilepsy often demonstrate a diminished capacity for sustained attention, whether from the underlying process or their medications. Some consider the use of stimulants such as Methylphenidate, controversial due to concerns they may lower convulsive threshold. This case report describes a patient with daily intractable seizures despite multiple anti-epileptic agents, with severe impairments in attention, cognition and communication. During an acute inpatient rehabilitation admission, this patient was treated with Methylphenidate and decreased anti-epileptic medication with clinically demonstrated improvements in attention, communication and command following. There were no adverse effects demonstrated in seizure frequency.