1 in 5 epilepsy patients have ADHD, study finds

Researchers at the Neurological Surgery, P.C. (NSPC) in Rockville Centre, New York has found that 1 in 5 patients with epilepsy exhibit attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms

They surveyed 1,400 adult epilepsy patients across the United States. They found that more than 18 percent had significant ADHD symptoms. In comparison, about 4 percent of American adults in the general population have been diagnosed with ADHD, the researchers noted.

Compared to other epilepsy patients, those with ADHD symptoms were also nine times more likely to have depression, eight times more likely to have anxiety symptoms, suffered more seizures and were far less likely to be employed.

“Little was previously known about the prevalence of ADHD symptoms in adults with epilepsy, and the results were quite striking,” study leader and director of NSPC Dr. Alan Ettinger, said.

Category: Education, Top Story