Comparison of psychosocial screeners in an epilepsy clinic

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior 2023-11, Vol.148, p.109452-109452, Article 109452
• Main Authors: Sarlo, Gabrielle L., Haughton, Taylor, Rizakos, Eleni, Merwin, Stephanie, Havens, Kathryn A., Pasupuleti, Archana, Gaillard, William D., Berl, Madison M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ADHD; Adolescent; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - etiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Emotion; Emotions; Epilepsy; Epilepsy - complications; Epilepsy - diagnosis; Humans; Pediatric; Quality of Life; Screening measures; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109452

•Positive screen rates ranged from 38% to 72% for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and emotional symptoms.•Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) identified more children at risk for inattentive symptoms than other ADHD screeners.•Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Emotional problems(SDQ-E) and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Epilepsy Module (PedsQL-EM) had similar positive screening rates for emotional symptoms.•Clinicians need to consider their population and clinic setup when selecting measures. Screenings are recommended for co-occurring conditions in pediatric epilepsy. However, there is limited research regarding which screener to implement in the clinic. This study aimed to compare different screening measures for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and emotional concerns in a pediatric epilepsy population during a routine neurology clinic visit. Fifty (22%) of 226 contacted parents of children with epilepsy ages 5–17 years old agreed to participate. Screening measures included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Hyperactivity/Inattention (ADHD), Emotional Problems (E) subscales), the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Epilepsy Module (PedsQL-EM; Executive Functioning (EF), Mood/Behavior (M/B) subscales), and the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). Analyses comparing measures included Chi Square, Pearson’s correlation, and agreement statistics (Cohen’s kappa, overall agreement). Consistent with prior literature, positive screening rates ranged from 40% to 72% for ADHD concerns and 38% to 46% for emotional concerns. Agreement between measures ranged from fair to substantial, with the highest agreement (85%; κ = 0.70) between the SDQ-E and PedsQL-EM-M/B. Although all measures rendered positive screens within expected rates, there are differences among the measures that inform screening measure selection.