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AIMS Neuroscience

2022, Volume 9, Issue 2: 277-287. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2022015
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Assessment of behavioural problems in preschool and school going children with epilepsy

  • 1.
    M.B.B.S, M.D. Paediatrics, Fellow in Developmental Paediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Saveetha medical college and hospital, Thandalam, Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu, 602105, India.
  • 2.
    M.B.B.S, M.D. Paediatrics, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Saveetha medical college and hospital, Thandalam, Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu, 602105, India.
  • 3.
    M.B.B.S, D.C.H. Paediatrics, Senior Resident, Department of Pediatrics, Saveetha medical college and hospital, Thandalam, Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu, 602105, India.
  • 4.
    M.B.B.S, M.D. Paediatrics, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Saveetha medical college and hospital, Thandalam, Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu, 602105, India.
  • 5.
    M.B.B.S, Post graduate student, Department of Pediatrics, Saveetha medical college and hospital, Thandalam, Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu, 602105, India.
  • 6.
    M.B.B.S, Post graduate student, Department of Pediatrics, Saveetha medical college and hospital, Thandalam, Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu, 602105, India.
  • Received: 15 March 2022 Revised: 18 May 2022 Accepted: 20 May 2022 Published: 01 June 2022

  • Introduction 

    Children with epilepsy are at greater risk of developing psychiatric and behavioural disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as affective and aggressive disorders than normal children which may affect the well- being and quality of life of the child.

    Aim and Objectives 

    This study aims at identifying behavioural problems in children with epilepsy enabling early diagnosis and intervention. The objectives were to assess the presence and type of behavioural problems in children with epilepsy.

    Methods 

    A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on children who were diagnosed as epilepsy in two age groups of 1.5–5 years and 6–18 years recruited by non-probability convenience sampling. Data regarding seizure semiology, clinical features and treatment were obtained. Children underwent IQ assessment, electroencephalogram and brain neuroimaging. Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) was administered to parents or primary caregivers after obtaining informed consent. Results were analyzed for presence of behavioural problems using SPSS-23.

    Results 

    In the study, out of 50 study subjects, 72% were between 6–18 years. 60% children had generalised seizures, 58% children had epilepsy for <2 years and abnormal EEG was present in 80% children. 6% children had behavioural problems and 4% had borderline presentations. Co-relation of behavioural problems with age was statistically significant with p value 0.027. Behavioural problems identified were aggressiveness and anxiety.

    Conclusion 

    Childhood epilepsy is associated with behavioural problems along with other co-morbidities warranting a search during follow-up visits.

    Take-home message 

    Early identification and treatment of behavioural problems in children with epilepsy by periodic assessment during follow up visits, careful selection of combination of drugs and appropriate dose can improve the overall outcome in children taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for epilepsy.

    Citation: Harshitha Shanmuganathan, Radha Kumar, D.V. Lal, Chaudhary Devanand Gulab, E. Gayathri, Kesavaraj Pallavi Raja. Assessment of behavioural problems in preschool and school going children with epilepsy[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2022, 9(2): 277-287. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2022015

    Related Papers:

  • Introduction 

    Children with epilepsy are at greater risk of developing psychiatric and behavioural disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as affective and aggressive disorders than normal children which may affect the well- being and quality of life of the child.

    Aim and Objectives 

    This study aims at identifying behavioural problems in children with epilepsy enabling early diagnosis and intervention. The objectives were to assess the presence and type of behavioural problems in children with epilepsy.

    Methods 

    A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on children who were diagnosed as epilepsy in two age groups of 1.5–5 years and 6–18 years recruited by non-probability convenience sampling. Data regarding seizure semiology, clinical features and treatment were obtained. Children underwent IQ assessment, electroencephalogram and brain neuroimaging. Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) was administered to parents or primary caregivers after obtaining informed consent. Results were analyzed for presence of behavioural problems using SPSS-23.

    Results 

    In the study, out of 50 study subjects, 72% were between 6–18 years. 60% children had generalised seizures, 58% children had epilepsy for <2 years and abnormal EEG was present in 80% children. 6% children had behavioural problems and 4% had borderline presentations. Co-relation of behavioural problems with age was statistically significant with p value 0.027. Behavioural problems identified were aggressiveness and anxiety.

    Conclusion 

    Childhood epilepsy is associated with behavioural problems along with other co-morbidities warranting a search during follow-up visits.

    Take-home message 

    Early identification and treatment of behavioural problems in children with epilepsy by periodic assessment during follow up visits, careful selection of combination of drugs and appropriate dose can improve the overall outcome in children taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for epilepsy.


    加载中

    Acknowledgments


    The authors acknowledge the immense help received from the scholar whose article are cited and included in references to this manuscript. The authors are also grateful to authors/publishers/editors of all those articles, journals and books from where the literature for this article has been reviewed and discussed.

    Limitations of the Study


    Major limitations of the present study were small sample size; a larger sample could have brought in the effects. A comparison cohort would have been useful in this study design which was another limitation of the study. Larger study on Indian population on multidrug treatment may give more insight into its effect on behaviour. The generalisability of study findings is limited as the study was from a single centre with limited catchment area. Hence adequate caution needs to be exercised while generalizing the findings to population groups with different demographic structure. It was a onetime assessment of children with epilepsy those with borderline scores were not followed up.

    Source of financial support


    Nil.

    Conflict of interest


    None declared.

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