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Thought disorder: A developmental disability in pediatric epilepsy
Rochelle Caplan1, Prabha Siddarth, Caroline E Bailey
1Department of Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. rcaplan@ucla.edu
Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
|May 9, 2006
Summary
Children with complex partial seizures (CPSs) and primary generalized epilepsy with absence (PGE) show similar thought disorder levels. However, CPS and PGE impact discourse skills through different mechanisms, affecting development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Thought disorder, characterized by impaired language use for thought formulation, is a concern in pediatric epilepsy.
- Understanding its impact in different epilepsy types is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare thought disorder in children with complex partial seizures (CPSs) and primary generalized epilepsy with absence (PGE).
- To investigate the relationship between thought disorder and demographic, seizure, cognitive, and linguistic variables in these groups.
- To examine the functional implications of thought disorder on psychopathology, social competence, academic achievement, and school problems.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 93 children with CPSs and 56 children with PGE.
- Assessment of thought disorder using psychopathology, social competence, academic achievement, and school problem measures.
- Statistical analysis controlling for demographic variables to compare thought disorder profiles and associated factors.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in overall thought disorder scores were found between the CPS and PGE groups after controlling for demographics.
- The variables associated with thought disorder (age, gender, seizure, cognitive factors) differed significantly between the CPS and PGE groups.
- In the CPS group, thought disorder correlated with psychopathology, school problems, lower academic achievement, and poor peer interaction. In the PGE group, it was primarily linked to school problems.
Conclusions:
- Complex partial seizures and primary generalized epilepsy with absence impact the maturation of children's discourse skills through distinct mechanisms.
- Thought disorder is associated with broader behavioral, academic, and social challenges in pediatric epilepsy.
- These discourse deficits represent a component of the developmental disabilities or comorbidities in children with CPS and PGE.