ABSTRACT
Using the Child Behavior Checklist, the behavior of 16 children with cryptogenic localization-related epilepsy was assessed at first admission to our epilepsy center, and approximately 2 years later. Behavior improved substantially from t(1) (first assessment, when patients were admitted to our center) to t(2) (reassessment after approximately 2 years) on almost all subscales of the Child Behavior Checklist. At t(2), all subscales scored within normal range. Furthermore, seizure frequency improved considerably in the 2 years between assessments. After a period of approximately 2 years, normalization of behavior in children with cryptogenic localization-related epilepsy occurred.
Subject(s)
Child Behavior Disorders/complications , Child Behavior Disorders/psychology , Epilepsies, Partial/complications , Epilepsies, Partial/psychology , Adolescent , Child , Child Behavior/psychology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Using the Child Behavior Checklist, behavior of 51 children with cryptogenic localization-related epilepsy was studied. According to parent report, children with cryptogenic localization-related epilepsy scored in the clinical range on the subscales "internalizing behavior," ''total behavior,'' and "attentional problems.'' No relation between the epilepsy factors seizure frequency, age at onset, duration of epilepsy or the number of antiepileptic drugs, and the subscales of the Child Behavior Checklist was found. Only for seizure type a relationship was found. Although in the normal range, the more severe the seizure type, the more delinquent, aggressive, and externalizing behavioral problems. Other studies have demonstrated that in children with epilepsy, internalizing problems are more common than externalizing problems, and that attentional, social, and thought problems are relatively specific. Therefore, we can conclude that the behavioral problems we found in our cohort are not very different from behavioral problems described in other epilepsy types.