Psychiatric symptoms in Norwegian children with epilepsy aged 8-13 years: Effects of age and gender?

Abstract

SUMMARYPurpose: In this population-based study we wanted to assess the prevalence and impact of psychiatric symptoms in children with epilepsy compared to controls, and investigate possible age and gender differences. Methods: Data were collected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Parent report (SDQ-P) as part of a more extensive questionnaire. A total of 14,699 parents of children aged 8-13 years (response rate 78%) participated. Associations between SDQ scores and epilepsy, other chronic disease, age, gender, and socioeconomic factors were explored using logistic regression analysis. Key Findings: Children with epilepsy (CWE) (n = 110) had a significantly higher frequency of psychiatric symptoms (37.8% vs. 17.0% in controls, p < 0.001). Gender differences were found in several subscales of the SDQ; girls had more emotional problems, whereas boys had higher scores regarding peer relationship and hyperactivity/ inattention problems. Male gender, low socioeconomic status (family income below poverty limit and living in a single parent home), and other chronic disease (asthma/ diabetes) were independent risk factors of developing psychiatric symptoms, along with epilepsy. Having or having had epilepsy was, however, a much stronger risk factor for developing psychiatric symptoms in girls than in boys [odds ratio (OR) 4.2 vs. OR 2.3]. A minor effect of age was seen only in girls with epilepsy, with an increased risk of psychiatric symptoms in age group 10-13 years (OR 1.28 for scoring borderline/abnormal on SDQ-total difficulties). Borderline/abnormal impact scores were found in 31.8% of CWE compared with 13.0% of controls (p < 0.001). Significance: Multiple risk factors contribute to the high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in CWE, perhaps differently in boys and girls. Awareness of this complex interaction may help target intervention toward high risk groups and thus prevent more serious problems from arising.

Age‐specific birth rates in women with epilepsy: a population‐based study

“…2006; Alfstad et al. 2011), and could be associated. Furthermore, fear of fetal malformations as a consequence of AED use during pregnancy, fear of seizures during pregnancy, and fear of the risk of epilepsy in the child may also be potentially contributing factors.…”

“…2006; Alfstad et al. 2011). A Norwegian study suggested that young adults with epilepsy are more prone to risk‐taking behavior, discussing whether epilepsy may be an independent risk factor for early sexual debut (Alfstad et al.…”

Psychiatric and Medical Comorbidity and Quality of Life Outcomes in Childhood-Onset Epilepsy

“…2 Beyond seizures, children with epilepsy (CWE) face numerous challenges including a high burden of psychiatric and behavioral comorbidities that often go untreated or even unrecognized. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Such comorbidity might predate the onset of epilepsy or persist in the setting of seizure remission, thereby suggesting that epilepsy is a pervasive condition encompassing more than seizures. 11,12 The observation that CWE, many of whom are in remission, have poor psychosocial outcomes as adults with respect to employment, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, and quality of life, highlights the pervasiveness of epilepsy's health impacts and suggests that factors not related to seizures might have an impact on psychosocial outcomes, including HRQoL.…”

Mental health problems in children with uncomplicated epilepsy; relation with parental anxiety

“…Children with epilepsy are at significantly higher risk for a range of behavioral and psychiatric disorders including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depressive and anxiety disorders. Although psychiatric disorders are frequently seen in patients with epilepsy, these disorders usually have been undiagnosed or untreated [3][4][5][6][7] . It has been found that at most only one third of the patients with mental disorders receive psychiatric treatment 6,7 .…”

“…Although psychiatric disorders are frequently seen in patients with epilepsy, these disorders usually have been undiagnosed or untreated [3][4][5][6][7] . It has been found that at most only one third of the patients with mental disorders receive psychiatric treatment 6,7 . Family members of children with a chronic disease are severely affected by the stress caused by this disease.…”