A Study to Explore the Verbal Fluency Performance in Adults Presenting With Epilepsy at University Teaching Hospital

Mutinta Matambo^* & Ravi Paul

Department of Psychiatry, University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia

Dr. Mutinta Matambo, Department of Psychiatry, University of Zambia, School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia.

Keywords: Epilepsy; Verbal Fluency Score; Category Fluency Test; Controlled Oral Association Test

Abstract

This study explored the verbal fluency performance in adults presenting with epilepsy at University Teaching Hospital. The study was guided by three objectives: (i) to describe verbal fluency performance in adults with epilepsy by the use of the neuropsychological tests; namely Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) and Category Fluency Test (FAS), (ii) to explore the association between verbal fluency scores and the clinical characteristics of Epilepsy; that is the age of onset and duration of the illness, and (ii) to describe the association between verbal fluency scores and the demographic data (sex and years of education) of the individual with Epilepsy.
The study was quantitative in nature and employed a cross-sectional survey design. Data was collected from participants aged 18 and above at University Teaching Hospital’s (UTH), Clinic 4. The sample size was 32 participants. Systematic sampling was used to select participants into the study. Data was collected through psychological tests: Category Fluency Test (FAS) and Controlled Oral Association Test (COWAT). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 and the relationship between variables were tested by use of bivariate analysis.

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