The impact of cognitive rehabilitation on executive functions and social adjustment in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Introduction: Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) is an idiopathic generalized epileptic syndrome, with an important prevalence of neuropsychological disorders, especially with regard to executive functions. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of cognitive rehabilitation on the executive and social functioning of JME patients. Method: Twenty-seven JME patients [mean age: 28.81 (SD 10.21); 63% female; Mean IQ 109.14 (SD16.76)] performed an intervention with a cognitive rehabilitation protocol that addressed, in 12 meetings, the training of attention and executive functions. Patients underwent a neuropsychological assessment in the baseline (T0) and after the intervention (T1). Inferential statistics of Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to verify the effect of a rehabilitation protocol before and after the intervention. The level of significance established was 0.05. Results: In regards to cold executive functions, there was an improvement in the performance of the components: selective attention (TMT A [p < .01] and SCT 2 [p = 0.03]), inhibitory control (SCT 3 [p = 0, 02], FAS [p < 0.01] and CPT commissions [p < 0.01]), mental flexibility (WCST categories [p < 0.01]) and all components of the self-report scales (BRIEF- A) There were no changes in the objective results of the hot executive functions, but in some components of the self-report questionnaires. There were no changes in social functioning scores. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that cognitive rehabilitation was associated with improved executive and attentional functioning in JME patients. Although JME patients reported improvement in impulsive behavior, this outcome cannot be measured by the assessment instruments used. There was no improvement in the results obtained by the questionnaires of social functioning in the short term (AU)