Recent study conducted at Georgetown University Medical Center indicated that epilepsy treatments given to young people could spark schizophrenia-like behaviour later.

A person, who had a history of seizures during infancy, has higher risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. It is not sure whether the seizures themselves or the drugs used for treatment are responsible for increased risk of schizophrenia.

In the recent study, research team used animal models to study impact of the antiepileptic drug (AED) treatments. It was found that animals given these treatments at key points in brain development showed an increase in schizophrenia-like behaviour later.

Guillermo Palchik, a doctoral student in the department of pediatrics at GUMC said that this study not only suggests a relationship between the drugs and schizophrenia, but it raises important questions regarding the side effects of a widely-used class of drugs.

Palchik added, “Phenobarbital and other AEDs are not only used as a treatment for seizures but more generally in the treatment of migraines, neuropathic pain and mood disorders, among other ailments, and can be considered drugs of abuse.”