Social cognition in children with epilepsy in mainstream education

• Published in: Developmental medicine and child neurology 2015-01, Vol.57 (1), p.53-59
• Main Authors: Lew, Adina R, Lewis, Charlie, Lunn, Judith, Tomlin, Pamela, Basu, Helen, Roach, Julie, Rakshi, Karl, Martland, Timothy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child Behavior Disorders - etiology; Child Behavior Disorders - physiopathology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epilepsies, Partial - complications; Epilepsies, Partial - physiopathology; Epilepsy, Generalized - complications; Epilepsy, Generalized - physiopathology; Facial Expression; Female; Humans; Male; Original; Social Perception; Theory of Mind - physiology; Verbal Behavior - physiology
• ISSN: 0012-1622; 1469-8749
• DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.12613

Aim To establish whether deficits in social cognition are present in children with generalized or focal epilepsy in mainstream education, and whether any relation exists between social cognition, communication, and behaviour measures. Method In a cross‐sectional study, children with an epilepsy‐only diagnoses in mainstream education (n=20 with generalized epilepsy; eight males, 12 females; mean age 11y 6mo, SD 2y 6mo; and n=27 with focal epilepsy; 12 males, 15 females; mean age 11y 8mo, SD 2y 2mo) and comparison participants (n=57; 28 males, 29 females; mean age 11y 2mo, SD 2y 4mo) were administered the Strange Stories task and the Mind in the Eyes task, as well as an IQ assessment. Parents completed the Children's Communication Checklist‐2 and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results Both groups of children with epilepsy performed more poorly than control children on the Mental Stories component of the Strange Stories task, F(2,101)=3.2, p