Abstract: Objective To investigate the cognitive function and psychological mental state of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), and the related risk factors. Methods From September, 2011 to Febrary, 2014, 21 patients with JME and 18 healthy controls matched with age, sex and educational level were assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Revised Chinese Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-RC) and Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The risk factors were analyzed with Logistic regression analysis. Results There was no significant difference in the score of MoCA between two groups (t=-1.544, P=0.131). The scores of verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ), performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) and full intelligence quotient (FIQ) in WAIS-RC were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (t>4.119, P<0.001). The scores of interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism in SCL-90 were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (t>2.480, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that VIQ significantly decreased in patients taking valproic acid (B=-3.064, OR=0.047, 95% CI=0.002~0.920, P=0.044). Conclusion VIQ, PIQ and FIQ decreased in patients with JME. Furthermore, different levels of dysfunction were found in interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism. Taking valproic acid was the risk factor of cognitive decline.

Key words: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Revised Chinese Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Symptom Checklist-90, cognitive function