Emotional and Behavioral Profiles of Adolescents with Epilepsy: Prevalence and Clinical Correlates
Abstract number :
2.318
Submission category :
11. Behavior/Neuropsychology/Language / 11B. Pediatrics
Year :
2022
Submission ID :
2204009
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/4/2022 12:00:00 PM
Published date :
Nov 22, 2022, 05:23 AM
Authors :
Jin Young Seo, MD – Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Soyong Eom, MD – Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Heung-Dong Kim, MD – Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Sang-Ahm Lee, MD – Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Rationale: Epilepsy significantly impacts the psychological well-being of people with epilepsy, but less attention has been paid to psychological problems in adolescents with epilepsy. We investigated the prevalence and clinical correlates of emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents with epilepsy.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional, multicenter study. Students aged 11 to 18 who could read and understand the self-report questionnaire participated, and the psychopathology was measured using the Youth Self-Report (YSR). YSR item ratings yield scores on eight narrowband and two broadband syndrome scales. Each syndrome scale was analyzed with the raw score and T-score. For a frequency analysis, narrowband and broadband syndromes were defined as T scores of ≥67 and ≥60, respectively.
Results: The study included 289 adolescents with epilepsy and a mean age was 15.4 ± 1.9 years. In total, 87 (30.1%) and 74 (25.6%) of adolescents with epilepsy had at least one narrowband and broadband syndrome, respectively. Social problems were the most common (15.9%), followed by attention problems (11.1%) (Figure 1). The frequency of the thought problems was higher in boys and the frequency of internalizing problems were significantly higher in age group of ≥16 years. In addition, the frequencies of all syndrome scales except somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, and thought problems were significantly higher in the treatment group using 2 or more anti-seizure medication (ASM) (Figure 2). However, the frequencies of the syndrome scales were not significantly associated with seizure freedom during the previous year, frequent seizures recurring more than once a month in the previous year, or epilepsy type. Age at seizure onset was negatively associated with only social problems and duration of epilepsy was positively associated with withdrawn, social problems, and thought problems.
Conclusions: Emotional and behavioral problems were common in adolescents with epilepsy, and these problems tended to occur more frequently when two or more ASMs were used. In conclusion, early detection and proper management of these problems are important for treatment.
Funding: None
Behavior