Behavioral aspects of executive functions in young adults with well-controlled epilepsy

ABSTRACT

Executive function (EF) skills involve higher-level cognitive functions, such as planning, goal formation, goal-directed behavior, and effective performance. Previous research has shown that these aspects of EF are essential for successful functioning in everyday life. This study aimed to examine differences in the behavioral aspects of EF between young adults with epilepsy and healthy controls. The study involved 62 young adults, aged 18 to 30 years, divided into two groups: a study group of young adults with well-controlled epilepsy and a control group of healthy young adults. The groups were matched according to basic sociodemographic characteristics. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function – Adult version was used to assess the behavioral aspects of executive functions. A significant difference between groups was only observed on the Organization of Materials scale, where the group with epilepsy achieved better performance. Our findings suggest that self-assessed behavioral control of EF is almost the same in healthy young adults and young adults with epilepsy who have no comorbidities and have good control of the disease as well as preserved intellectual ability and functionality in everyday activities.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavior rating scale
• executive functions
• well-controlled epilepsy

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Compliance with ethical standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants followed the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technolological Development of the Republic of Serbia, project number [179006]