Clinical Connection Home
  Welcome To
Clinical Connection
 

Trials
Alerts

Trials
Search

Health
Forum

Health
News

RSS

Intro

Clinics &
Sponsors

Member
Login
View Clinical Trial (Medical Research Study)

Emotional Processing and Memory Evaluation in Epilepsy Patients - NCT00486239-44106 (Clinical Trial 172059)
Permalink: http://www.ClinicalConnection.com/exp/ExpandedPatientViewStudy172059.aspx



** Please review additional "Nearby Studies" on right ----->

Clinical Trials Notification
Clinical Trials Search

City:  Cleveland
State:  
OH
Zip Code: 44106
Conditions: Epilepsy
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess the effects of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) on memory and emotional functioning. The study will evaluate the known lateralized neurological dysfunction(Right TLE versus Left TLE) on emotional verbal and visual memory function. Study data will assess the ability of participants with known lateralized neurological dysfunction (Right TLE versus Left TLE) to differentially perceive emotional stimuli. Another component of the study will evaluate possible changes in memory function for emotionally charged material following right or left temporal lobectomy for the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy. It is expected participants with known lateralized dysfunction will exhibit differential ability to discriminate emotional charged visual and verbal material.
Study summary: Epilepsy is a relatively common neurological disorder diagnosed when individuals suffer from repeated unprovoked seizures. Estimates of prevalence rates vary, but it is generally considered to be about 1% of the U.S. population. Of the patients diagnosed with epilepsy, about 60-70 percent are diagnosed with complex-partial seizures, and of these about 30-40 percent are medication refractory. The majority of individuals with medically refractory epilepsy have seizures arising from the temporal lobe area, labeled as Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE). Patients with TLE experience neurological and psychiatric comorbidity. The surgical treatment of patients with medically refractory epilepsy has become increasingly recognized as an effective treatment to reduce or eliminate seizures in selected patients. Up to 90 percent of selected participants with TLE have been seizure free for a year following temporal lobectomy. However, patients undergoing neurological surgery for medication refractory epilepsy can experience a variety of cognitive and emotional comorbid complications. These include declines in memory and language functions as well as onset of depression, anxiety, and, rarely, de novo psychosis has been reported. This study will assess the material specific memory and emotion functioning of subjects with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. The incorporation of neuropsychological assessment in the pre-surgical evaluation of patients diagnosed with medically refractory epilepsy has been successful in reducing the risk of individuals experiencing catastrophic declines in memory and language functioning following neurological surgery. However, material specific memory loss remains a problematic issue in the surgical treatment for TLE. Despite 30 years of research, there remains questions about the lateralized function of mesial temporal structures. In addition, it has become increasingly recognized emotional function in patients with medically refractory epilepsy are related to quality of life and functional outcomes following temporal lobectomy. Indeed, post-surgical symptoms of depression and anxiety are significantly related to patient quality of life and, to a lesser extent, seizure freedom. Initial results suggested patients with right TLE were at greater risk for post-surgical emotional difficulties; however, more recent data question earlier observations and suggest hemisphere dominance has little affect on psychiatric outcome. There is little doubt neurological surgery for medically refractory can significantly decrease, and in many instances, eliminate seizures in patients. However, individuals are at risk for cognitive and emotional comorbidity with these medical treatments and there remains a paucity of empirical study to help guide treatment. Despite increasing empirical evaluation of emotional (psychiatric) status in individuals with medically refractory epilepsy, there is a paucity of data exploring the interaction of learning and emotion functions. The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the memory functioning of individuals with medically refractory TLE for emotional material. In addition, a component of the study will evaluate if there are differences in the ability to evaluate the emotional content of stimuli. Data from participants with epilepsy will be compared to a control group of healthy volunteers. The stimuli will consist of positive and negative material. It is suspected these data will, in the future, improve the pre-surgical evaluation of individuals with medically refractory epilepsy and reduce risk of the person having a pronounced psychiatric complication following temporal lobectomy.
Criteria: Inclusion Criteria: - Referred to neurological institute at University Hospitals Case Medical Center for care of seizures/epilepsy - Referred to neuropsychology laboratory for evaluation - Participants must complete the routine check-in of all patients and sign consent and HIPAA forms. - Be, in the investigator's opinion, compliant, able to follow the investigator's instructions and visit the clinic on schedule, cooperative and reliable. - Be aged 18-64 years old. - Be able to provide documented informed consent. - Have a confirmed diagnosis of right or left temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), which is made independent of their pre-surgical neuropsychological evaluation. Neurological disease must be confirmed by one (or more) of the following: (a) MRI study of the head, (b) CT study of the head, (c) EEG study, (d) Video-EEG study, (e) PET study of the head, (f) Neurological and Psychiatric exam by a physician. Exclusion Criteria: - Referred from an attorney or their evaluation is part of a personal injury claim. - Be intoxicated from alcohol or other illicit substance. - Received Electroconvulsive (ECT) treatment within the last 21 days. - Have an MMSE score of 25 or less - Have undergone Deep Brain Stimulator (DBS) surgery
Study is available at: University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Cleveland, OH 44106
United States

Primary Contact:
Mike R Schoenberg, PhD
Email: Michael.Schoenberg@UHhospitals.org
Phone: 216-844-3422
If you are interested in this clinical trial please use the contact information above. If you would like to get additional information about this clinical trial please visit ClinicalTrials.gov.
Trials Alerts: If you would like to be notified of new clinical trials as they become available please register for a free account.

Data Source: ClinicalTrials.gov
Date Processed: March 15, 2010
Modifications to
this listing:
Only selected fields are shown, please use the link above to view all information about this clinical trial.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 












Clinical trials are medical research studies designed to test the safety and/or effectiveness of new drugs, devices, or treatments in humans. These studies are conducted worldwide for a range of conditions and illnesses. Learn more about clinical research and participating in a study at About Clinical Trials.


Within 25 Miles

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) - Cincinnati OH

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) - Middleburg Heights OH

Diabetic Gastroparesis - Mentor OH



Within 50 Miles



Within 100 Miles

 
Home | Clinical Trials Notification | Search Clinical Trials | About Clinical Trials | Message Board | Investigators
Links | Terms And Conditions | Sitemap | Suggestion/Feedback
© 1998-2009 | All trademarks are property of their legal owners. | All Rights Reserved

ClinicalConnection.com is a resource that provides individuals with information regarding clinical trials that are being conducted nationwide.
ClinicalConnection.com does not conduct these clinical trials nor endorse them. Please consult your doctor or physician before participating.