Neuropsychological Outcomes in 6-Year-Old Children of Women With Epilepsy: A Prospective Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Antiseizure medications (ASMs) are potential teratogens commonly prescribed for multiple indications. ASM fetal exposure can impair neurodevelopment. Folate improves pregnancy outcomes, but higher doses may pose risks.

Association of Prenatal Exposure to Antiseizure Medications With Creative and Executive Function at Age 4.5 Years.

Background And Objectives: Neurodevelopmental effects of fetal antiseizure medication (ASM) exposure on creativity and executive functions are poorly understood. We previously found fetal valproate exposure to adversely affect measures of creativity and executive functions. In this study, we examine fetal exposure of newer ASMs on these functions in children of women with epilepsy (WWE) compared with children of healthy women (HW).

Behavioral Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Among Children of Women With Epilepsy.

Importance: The association of fetal exposure to antiseizure medications (ASMs) with outcomes in childhood are not well delineated.

Objective: To examine the association of fetal ASM exposure with subsequent adaptive, behavioral or emotional, and neurodevelopmental disorder outcomes at 2, 3, and 4.5 years of age.

Initiation and Duration of Breastfeeding in the Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs Study.

Background And Objectives: Breastfeeding has important health benefits for both mother and child. We characterize breastfeeding initiation and duration in mothers with epilepsy relative to control mothers in a large prospective cohort.

Methods: The Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs study is a prospective, multicenter observational, US cohort study.

Cognitive outcomes at age 3 years in children with fetal exposure to antiseizure medications (MONEAD study) in the USA: a prospective, observational cohort study.

Background: The neurodevelopmental effects of fetal exposure to most antiseizure medications are unclear. We aimed to investigate the effects of fetal exposure to commonly used antiseizure medications on neuropsychological outcomes at age 3 years.

Methods: The Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (MONEAD) study is a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study at 20 specialty epilepsy centres in the USA.

Prospective Cohort Study of Depression During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period in Women With Epilepsy vs Control Groups.

Background And Objectives: Assess the incidence and factors associated with major depressive episodes (MDEs) and symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum periods in pregnant women with epilepsy (PWWE) compared with healthy pregnant women (HPW) and nonpregnant women with epilepsy (NPWWE) in comparable timeframes. Previous studies have reported higher rates of postpartum depression in women with epilepsy compared with women without epilepsy. However, the incidence of MDE using a structured interview during pregnancy and postpartum has not been directly compared with control groups, and the comparison of depression and anxiety symptoms and the role of associated factors remain ambiguous.

Effect of Epilepsy on Sleep Quality During Pregnancy and Postpartum.

Background And Objectives: This study seeks to understand how sleep is affected in pregnant women with epilepsy (WWE) relative to healthy pregnant women during pregnancy and postpartum and to nonpregnant WWE during comparative periods. Sleep affects maternal health and mood during pregnancy. Maternal sleep disturbances are related to poor fetal growth and increased fetal deaths.

Two-Year-Old Cognitive Outcomes in Children of Pregnant Women With Epilepsy in the Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs Study.

Importance: The neurodevelopmental risks of fetal exposure are uncertain for many antiseizure medications (ASMs).

Objective: To compare children at 2 years of age who were born to women with epilepsy (WWE) vs healthy women and assess the association of maximum ASM exposure in the third trimester and subsequent cognitive abilities among children of WWE.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (MONEAD) study is a prospective, observational, multicenter investigation of pregnancy outcomes that enrolled women from December 19, 2012, to January 13, 2016, at 20 US epilepsy centers.

Changes in Seizure Frequency and Antiepileptic Therapy during Pregnancy.

Background: Among women with epilepsy, studies regarding changes in seizure frequency during pregnancy have been limited by the lack of an appropriate nonpregnant comparator group to provide data on the natural course of seizure frequency in both groups.

Methods: In this prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study, we compared the frequency of seizures during pregnancy through the peripartum period (the first 6 weeks after birth) (epoch 1) with the frequency during the postpartum period (the following 7.5 months after pregnancy) (epoch 2).

Antiepileptic Drug Exposure in Infants of Breastfeeding Mothers With Epilepsy.

Importance: There is limited information on infant drug exposure via breastfeeding by mothers who are receiving antiepileptic drug therapy.

Objective: To provide direct, objective information on antiepileptic drug exposure through breast milk.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective cohort study was conducted between December 2012 to October 2016, with follow-up in children until 6 years of age at 20 sites across the United States.

New antiepileptic drugs: focus on ezogabine, clobazam, and perampanel.

Ezogabine, clobazam, and perampanel are among the newest antiseizure drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 2011 and 2012. Ezogabine and perampanel are approved for adjunctive treatment of partial epilepsy. Perampanel is also approved for adjunctive treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Long-term video EEG monitoring for diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures have long been known by many names. A short list includes hysteroepilepsy, hysterical seizures, pseudoseizures, nonepileptic events, nonepileptic spells, nonepileptic seizures, and psychogenic nonepileptic attacks. These events are typically misdiagnosed for years and are frequently treated as electrographic seizures and epilepsy.

Neurological and psychiatric sequelae of developmental exposure to antiepileptic drugs.

The neurons in the developing mammalian brain are susceptible to antiepileptic drug (AED) effects. It is known that later in life deficits in cognitive performance as well as psychiatric deficits can manifest after early AED exposure. The extent of these deficits will be addressed.

Antiepileptic drugs in women with epilepsy during pregnancy.

Prescribing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in pregnancy is a challenge to the clinician. A multitude of questions arise that must be addressed even prior to conception. In women with proven epilepsy, it may be dangerous to stop or even change the AED regimen during pregnancy.