Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42711635›Full record

ArticleNeurology and therapy2026

Cenobamate Improves Emotional Dysregulation, Impulsivity, and Apathy in Drug-Resistant Focal Epilepsy: A Longitudinal Neuropsychological Study.

Ilaria Sammarra, Adriana Saraceno, Iolanda Martino, Alessia Vono, Francesca Felicia Operto, Francesco Fortunato, Antonio Gambardella

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Article in Neurology and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ilaria Sammarra *Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Neurology, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4136-9245
Adriana Saraceno *Department of Neurology, Lamezia Terme Hospital, Lamezia Terme, Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-1273-4519
Iolanda MartinoDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Neurology, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-8964-8649
Alessia VonoDepartment of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Francesca Felicia OpertoDepartment of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2444-8761
Francesco FortunatoDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Neurology, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. francescofortunato@unicz.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8395-7809
Antonio GambardellaDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Neurology, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7384-3074

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAlthough effects on cognitive function have been reported during cenobamate (CNB) treatment, far less is known about how it may affect neuropsychological domains such as apathy, emotion dysregulation, and impulsivity. This prospective longitudinal study aims to assess psychopathological and cognitive changes after CNB introduction in adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, accounting for seizure outcome and burden of concomitant anti-seizure medication (ASM).

methodsWe consecutively recruited adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who had undergone a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation at baseline, before starting CNB, and at follow-up, 12 months after treatment introduction. The psychopathological battery included Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-36), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES), and Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QoLIE-31). The cognitive assessment comprised Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Digit-Span, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, WEIGL, FAS, Stroop Color and Word Test, and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). We applied linear mixed-effects models adjusted for responder status and total concomitant ASM defined daily dose (DDD) ratio.

resultsOur cohort included 27 individuals (16 female; mean age 42.4 ± 16.7 years) showing a 74% responder rate with 30% achieved seizure freedom at follow-up. CNB treatment was associated with favorable changes in BDI-II (q = 0.009), DERS-36 (q = 2.36 × 10

conclusionAdjunctive CNB was correlated with psychopathological improvements alongside domain-specific cognitive changes, independent of seizure outcome and concomitant ASM burden. These findings further expand current knowledge on CNB impact and tolerability profile.

Indexed as

CenobamateFocal drug-resistant epilepsyLongitudinal cognitive evaluationLongitudinal psychopathological assessment

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.