cognitive and behavioral effects of lacosamide

Conditions: Epilepsy

Summary: primary objective: null hypothesis: a 24-week trial of adjunctive lacosamide does not produce a decline in cognitive, mood or quality of life measures. to determine the cognitive and behavioral side effects of lacosamide in patients with partial epilepsy and follow them for a period of 24 weeks using a neuropsychological test battery drawing on tests commonly used and designed to maximize sensitivity to drug effects. secondary objectives: to determine if any significant changes in cognitive, mood or quality of life measures are dependent upon changes in seizure severity, neurotoxicity, adverse events, or lacosamide dosage.

the investigators will examine a group of patients with partial epilepsy (chronic seizures arising from one particular part of the brain) whose seizures have not been controlled. if they consent to the study, they will be followed for 4 weeks to get a baseline seizure frequency. the patients will take a battery of tests assessing attention, memory, cognitive speed, and language, and fill out some inventories to assess their mood and quality of life. they will then receive a new anti-epileptic drug, lacosamide, to add to whatever epilepsy medications they are currently taking. they will be closely followed for 24 weeks with regular doctor's visits to monitor their physical health and seizure control, and will complete an inventory assessing the frequency and severity of their seizures. during that period of time, the other medication will remain unchanged. at the end of the 24-week period they will re-take the battery of cognitive tests and mood and quality of life inventories. the cognitive, mood, and quality of life variables will be analyzed to determine if they change for the better or worse after the course of lacosamide treatment. any changes will also be analyzed with respect to seizure frequency and severity and to adverse events or side effects from the addition of the lacosamide, as well as to lacosamide dosage. the investigators chose this design since it closely represents what the investigators do in clinical practice.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: subjects must meet all the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for enrollment into the trial * age range 18-70 * able and willing to provide written informed consent to participate in the study in accordance with the ich and gcp guidelines, and per the judgement of the investigator be able to cooperate fully with neuropsychological testing * native english speaker or balanced bilingual * diagnosis of refractory partial onset epilepsy * historical mean seizure frequency of \>/= 1 seizure per month on average during 6 months prior to visit 1. exclusion criteria: subjects presenting with any of the following will not be included in the trial: * history of drug/alcohol abuse * females who are pregnant or are on an unapproved method of contraception * psychiatric disorder (diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychotic disorder , major depression requiring hospitalization in the past 2 years, or other psychological or behavioral condition which in the judgement of the investigator should exclude the subject from the study. * no active suicidal plan/intent or active suicidal thoughts in the last 6 months * current use of antidepressant, anxiolytic, or antipsychotic agents * presence of any progressive,demyelinating, or degenerative neurological condition * diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizure disorder * traumatic brain injury within 6 months of enrollment or tbi with suspected cognition/memory changes after tbi that has not stabilized 6 months prior to enrollment * prior history of cardiac arrhythmia

Keywords: partial epilepsy