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Neurology supplements are not peer-reviewed. Information contained in Neurology supplements represent the opinions of the authors and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views of the American Academy of Neurology, Editor-in-Chief, or Associate Editors of Neurology.

Optimizing therapy of seizures in children and adolescents with ADHD

From the Department of Behavioral Sciences, Epilepsy Center Kempenhaeghe, Heeze, The Netherlands (Drs. Aldenkamp, Reijs, and Van Mil); Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands (Drs. Aldenkamp and Reijs); and Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France (Dr. Arzimanoglou)

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Albert Aldenkamp, Department of Behavioral Science & Psychological Services, Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, PO Box 61, NL-5590 AB Heeze, The Netherlands; e-mail: aldenkampB{at}kempenhaeghe.nl

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can coexist with epilepsy and the prevalence of ADHD in epilepsy is three to five times greater than normal. This may be an effect of the epilepsy (particularly as a secondary symptom of subtle seizures) or of the antiepileptic treatment. There is an ongoing debate about the nature of ADHD in epilepsy and especially whether successive comorbidity exists (i.e., the possibility that epilepsy lowers the threshold for developing ADHD). Treatment of comorbid ADHD may be difficult. Methylphenidate is still the treatment of choice for the condition and, although it has been shown that neither methylphenidate nor other psychostimulants provoke seizures, there is still a possibility that seizure frequency may increase in children with active epilepsy.

This supplement has been supported through an unrestricted grant from UCB S.A., manufacturers of levetiracetam (Keppra®).

Disclosure: Drs. Aldenkamp, Reijs and Van Mil report no conflicts of interest. Dr. Arzimanoglou has received speaker and consulting fees from the sponsor of this supplement.

Neurology supplements are not peer-reviewed. Information contained in Neurology supplements represents the opinions of the authors and is not endorsed by nor does it reflect the views of the American Academy of Neurology, Editorial Board, Editor-in-Chief, or Associate Editors of Neurology.