Behavioral Phenotypes of Pediatric Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Abstract number :
2.302
Submission category :
11. Behavior/Neuropsychology/Language / 11B. Pediatrics
Year :
2021
Submission ID :
1826673
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/5/2021 12:00:00 PM
Published date :
Nov 22, 2021, 06:55 AM
Authors :
William Schraegle, PhD - University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School; Rachael Tillman - University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School; Rosario DeLeon - University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
Rationale: To characterize the presence and nature of discrete behavioral phenotypes and their correlates in a cohort of youth with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).
Methods: Data included parental ratings on the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-2), for 81 children (mean age = 11.79, SD = 3.93) with TLE. The nine clinical subscales were subjected to hierarchical clustering analysis to identify behavioral subgroups. Further examination of subgroup differences among demographics (age, gender, handedness, minoritized status), seizure characteristics (age of onset, seizure frequency, current AEDs, failed AEDs, laterality, hippocampal sclerosis, referral type), psychosocial factors (maternal and paternal education, family stress, parental psychiatric history, single family household), neuropsychological performance, and both parent-rated executive functions and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was conducted.
Results: Hierarchical clustering identified three behavioral phenotypes, which included no behavioral concerns (Cluster 1, 43% of sample), externalizing and attention problems (Cluster 2, 41% of sample), and internalizing problems (Cluster 3, 16% of sample). Behavioral phenotypes were characterized by important differences across clinical seizure variables, psychosocial/familial factors, everyday executive functioning, and HRQOL. Cluster 2 was associated with lower maternal education and higher rate of single parent households. Cluster 3 was associated with older age of epilepsy onset and higher rates of hippocampal sclerosis and parental psychiatric history. Both Cluster 2 and 3 demonstrated elevated family stress. Cluster 3 was associated with worse HRQOL.
Conclusions: Youth with TLE present with three distinct behavioral phenotypes that correspond to important clinical and sociodemographic markers. The current findings demonstrate the variability of behavioral presentations in youth with TLE and provide a preliminary framework for providing tailored psychotherapeutic interventions to support youth with TLE and their families.
Funding: Please list any funding that was received in support of this abstract.: none.
Behavior