Non-parametric Evaluation of Memory Changes at Group and Individual Level Following Temporal Lobe Resection for Pharmaco-resistant Partial Epilepsy

• Published in: Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 943 - 954
• Main Authors: Engman, Elisabeth, Andersson-Roswall, Lena, Svensson, Elisabeth, Malmgren, Kristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 01.10.2004; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anterior Temporal Lobectomy - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Drug Resistance; Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - physiopathology; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe - surgery; Evaluation Studies; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Functional Laterality - physiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Memory - physiology; Memory Disorders - physiopathology; Neurologi; Neurology; Nonparametric; Organic mental disorders. Neuropsychology; Postoperative Period; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Statistics; Statistics, Nonparametric; Temporal Lobe/physiopathology/surgery; Human; Temporal lobe; Nervous system diseases; Treatment resistance; Resection; Memory; Complex partial epilepsy; Anticonvulsant; Cognition; Cerebral disorder; Chemotherapy; Partial; Central nervous system disease; Temporal lobe epilepsy
• ISSN: 1380-3395; 1744-411X; 1744-411X
• DOI: 10.1080/13803390490510879

Group versus individual verbal and visuospatial memory outcome following epilepsy surgery was evaluated by a non-parametric method in 25 left and 29 right temporal lobectomy patients. Twenty-five controls were assessed twice. Analyses of change at an individual level evaluated by this statistical approach based on paired-ranks were compared to results with a method based on distances (Reliable Change). The left temporal lobectomy group deteriorated in the two verbal memory variables (p < 0.01 and 0.05). High levels of individual changes unexplained by group patterns were disclosed in the three memory variables analyzed in the patients. Significant individual change, although less pronounced, also occurred in the controls. Group versus individual outcome was adequately distinguished by the non-parametric method. To properly analyze memory change after epilepsy surgery, evaluation at group and individual level ought to combined.