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

• Published in: Epilepsia (Copenhagen) 2011-07, Vol.52 (7), p.1231-1238
• Main Authors: Alfstad, Kristin Å., Clench‐Aas, Jocelyne, Van Roy, Betty, Mowinckel, Petter, Gjerstad, Leif, Lossius, Morten I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Factors; Anticonvulsants. Antiepileptics. Antiparkinson agents; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Children; Children & youth; Epilepsy; Epilepsy - complications; Epilepsy - psychology; Female; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders - complications; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neuropharmacology; Norway - epidemiology; Older people; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychopathology; Psychosocial; Risk Factors; SDQ; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic; Socioeconomic factors
• ISSN: 0013-9580; 1528-1167
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03042.x

Summary Purpose:  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