Cognitive and Psychological Impacts of Congenital Corpus Callosum Disorders in Adults: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Objectives

Support for adults with congenital corpus callosum disorders (CCDs) is impeded by poor understanding of the impacts of a CCD on day-to-day functioning and quality of life. This scoping review examines existing literature to establish the evidence-based impacts of congenital CCDs in adults and identify gaps to inform future research, policy development, and service delivery.

Methods

We conducted searches in Scopus, Medline Ovid, PsycInfo, Discovery, and ERIC. Studies meeting selection criteria were peer-reviewed, in English, published from 1980 to 2021, reported predominantly on participants 16 years or older who were diagnosed with a CCD by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results

The thirty-eight included articles comprised 14 single/dual participant case studies and 24 group studies, comparing adults with a CCD with normative data or matched controls. Although most participants were of average IQ, CCDs affected day-to-day executive functioning, social interaction, and meeting expectations of adulthood. Cognitive impacts included difficulties with learning and memory, linguistic and emotional processing, and complex reasoning, with functional capacity typically decreasing as tasks and situations increased in complexity. Psychological impacts pertaining to feelings, emotions, and social awareness were reported in addition to associated mental health, psychiatric mood, and developmental and psychotic disorders including autism, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

Conclusions

Impacts were extremely heterogenous, presenting interwoven challenges to learning, executive functioning, social interaction, and mental health. Knowledge of these circumstances is vital for adults with CCDs, professionals, and family members to ensure appropriate services and support are available to promote good quality, inclusive lives for all adults with a CCD.