Epilepsy & IQ: The clinical utility of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition (WAIS–IV) indices in the neuropsychological assessment of people with epilepsy

Abstract

We examined Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition (WAIS–IV) General Ability Index (GAI) and Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) discrepancies in 100 epilepsy patients; 44% had a significant GAI > FSIQ discrepancy. GAI–FSIQ discrepancies were correlated with the number of antiepileptic drugs taken and duration of epilepsy. Individual antiepileptic drugs differentially interfere with the expression of underlying intellectual ability in this group. FSIQ may significantly underestimate levels of general intellectual ability in people with epilepsy. Inaccurate representations of FSIQ due to selective impairments in working memory and reduced processing speed obscure the contextual interpretation of performance on other neuropsychological tests, and subtle localizing and lateralizing signs may be missed as a result.

Keywords:

• Epilepsy
• Antiepileptic drugs
• IQ
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition
• General Ability Index.