TITLE:
Epileptic-Like Disorder as an Underlying Condition in ASD, OCD, and ADHD
AUTHORS:
Giuliana Galli Carminati, Alexandre Buttex, Gregory Zecca, Federico Carminati
KEYWORDS:
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Epileptic-Like Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Psychoanalysis, Jung, Freud, Baudouin
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
11,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: In our clinical practice, we have observed
epileptic-like disorders that often accompany autistic spectrum (ASD), obsessive-compulsive (OCD), and
attention deficit hyperactive disorders (ADHD). From these observations, we
hypothesized that epileptic-like disorders aren’t simply a frequent comorbid
syndrome but rather an underlying etiological factor of the three disorders. Purpose:
Care for these patients is problematic, and their disease seriously affects
their quality of life. Finding an appropriate pharmacological treatment is
central to improving their condition. Methods: We present the clinical
vignettes of two patients with ASD, OCD, and ADHD at various intellectual
levels. These patients are very different in many aspects of their life story
and pathology. They differ in the severity of the three disorders, their
location on the ASD spectrum, and their intellectual level. Results: Our
observations gave us grounds to suspect a common epileptic-like root. The
tuning of antiepileptic treatment in the first patient and introducing
Pregabalin for the second reduced their symptomatology and substantially
increased their quality of life. Conclusions: In our experience with ASD, OCD, and ADHD
comorbidity with different clinical profiles and intellectual levels, adjusting
or introducing the antiepileptic treatment showed positive effects. This fact
seems consistent with our hypothesis. We would welcome more studies on this
subject that could lead to a quantitative assessment of our idea.