ADHD and epilepsy: contributions from the use of behavioral rating scales to investigate psychiatric comorbidities.

Children with epilepsy have a high incidence of psychiatric comorbidities, especially attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This observational cross-sectional study investigated the presence of ADHD in 30 children with idiopathic epilepsy. The Brazilian versions of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Teacher Report Form (TRF), and the MTA-SNAP-IV questionnaire were used to assess comorbid psychiatric conditions. ADHD diagnosis was confirmed in 53.3% of children. The combined type was the most prevalent (43.7%), followed by the hyperactive-impulsive (37.5%) and inattentive (18.7%) types. Scores above the cutoff point on these scales were strongly correlated with the presence of ADHD. The high prevalence of ADHD in association with other psychiatric comorbidities in children with epilepsy justifies the use of behavioral rating scales as screening tests.

Aspectos neuropsicológico e neurológico de crianças nascidas prematuras e com peso inferior a 1.500 gramas / Neurological and neuropsychological aspects of children born preterm and with weight lower than 1.500 grams

Crianças nascidas prematuras, especialmente aquelas com peso <1.500g, apresentam frequentemtente complicações neonatais e riscos para problemas de desenvolvimento. Nesse estudo, 20 crianças com inteligência e exame neurológico normal, aos sete anos, nascidas <33 semanas de gestação e peso <1.500g, foram comparadas com 20 crianças nascidas a termo. Avaliou-se a inteligência pela WISC-III e o comportamento pelo Questionário de Conners. O Exame Neurológico Evolutivo-Lefèvre foi aplicado nas prematuras. As crianças prematuras apresentaram nível intelectual inferior ao das nascidas a termo. No Conners não houve diferença entre os grupos. Apenas 20 por cento das prematuras completaram todas as provas do Exame Evolutivo previstas para a idade. Os dados alertam para a necessidade de avaliações específicas, na idade escolar, em crianças nascidas prematuras, mesmo que apresentem exame neurológico normal.(AU)

Preterm children - especially those with birth weight <1,500g - often present neonatal complications and higher risk of suffering from developmental disorders. Twenty children aged seven, with average intelligence and normal neurological exams, born with gestational age <33 weeks and weight <1,500g, were enrolled in a study and compared with 20 children born at full term. Intelligence was measured by WISC-III and behavior by the Conners Questionnaire. Lefèvre Evolutive Neurological Examination was applied in the preterm children. Children born preterm had lower IQ than those born at full term. In the Conners, there was no difference between groups. Only 20 percent of preterm children performed all tests from the Evolutive Exam for their age. This study highlights the importance of specific cognitive evaluations in preterm children during school age, even if they have normal neurological exams.(AU)

Aspectos neuropsicológico e neurológico de crianças nascidas prematuras e com peso inferior a 1.500 gramas / Neurological and neuropsychological aspects of children born preterm and with weight lower than 1.500 grams

Crianças nascidas prematuras, especialmente aquelas com peso <1.500g, apresentam frequentemtente complicações neonatais e riscos para problemas de desenvolvimento. Nesse estudo, 20 crianças com inteligência e exame neurológico normal, aos sete anos, nascidas <33 semanas de gestação e peso <1.500g, foram comparadas com 20 crianças nascidas a termo. Avaliou-se a inteligência pela WISC-III e o comportamento pelo Questionário de Conners. O Exame Neurológico Evolutivo-Lefèvre foi aplicado nas prematuras. As crianças prematuras apresentaram nível intelectual inferior ao das nascidas a termo. No Conners não houve diferença entre os grupos. Apenas 20 por cento das prematuras completaram todas as provas do Exame Evolutivo previstas para a idade. Os dados alertam para a necessidade de avaliações específicas, na idade escolar, em crianças nascidas prematuras, mesmo que apresentem exame neurológico normal.

Preterm children - especially those with birth weight <1,500g - often present neonatal complications and higher risk of suffering from developmental disorders. Twenty children aged seven, with average intelligence and normal neurological exams, born with gestational age <33 weeks and weight <1,500g, were enrolled in a study and compared with 20 children born at full term. Intelligence was measured by WISC-III and behavior by the Conners Questionnaire. Lefèvre Evolutive Neurological Examination was applied in the preterm children. Children born preterm had lower IQ than those born at full term. In the Conners, there was no difference between groups. Only 20 percent of preterm children performed all tests from the Evolutive Exam for their age. This study highlights the importance of specific cognitive evaluations in preterm children during school age, even if they have normal neurological exams.