Attentional processes and ADHD-related symptoms in pediatric patients with epilepsy
Shu-Tsen Liu1, Fang-Ju Tsai, Wang-Tso Lee
1Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Insights
Pediatric epilepsy patients often show attention deficits, impacting learning. Early screening for attention problems in children with epilepsy is recommended, regardless of IQ or ADHD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in children.
- Epilepsy can affect cognitive functions, including attention.
- Understanding attention deficits in pediatric epilepsy is crucial for academic success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate attentional processes and ADHD symptoms in Taiwanese children with epilepsy (IQ >70).
- To compare attention performance between children with epilepsy and typically developing controls.
- To identify factors associated with attention deficits in pediatric epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- 61 children (ages 6-16) with epilepsy and IQ >70 were assessed.
- 61 matched typically developing children served as controls.
- Intelligence (WISC-III), attention (Conners' CPT), and ADHD symptoms (parental report) were evaluated.
Main Results:
- Children with epilepsy exhibited more inattention and slower responses compared to controls.
- Epileptic children with ADHD symptoms showed longer and more variable reaction times.
- Higher IQ correlated with more stable attention performance in epileptic children.
Conclusions:
- Children with epilepsy, even without intellectual disability, may experience attention deficits.
- Screening for attention problems in pediatric epilepsy is recommended.
- Early identification can mitigate learning adversities in this population.
Objective:
to investigate the attentional processes and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in pediatric patients with epilepsy and IQ greater than 70 in Taiwan.
Methods:
we assessed 61 children (male, 62.3%; full-scale IQ >70) with epilepsy, ages 6-16 years, and 61 sex-, age-, and parental education-matched typically developing children (controls). All participants completed the intelligence (WISC-III) and attention assessments (Conners' Continuous Performance Test, CPT). The parents reported on the ADHD symptoms of their children.
Results:
children with epilepsy had more omission errors and deviant response style (β) and scored lower in the Hit Reaction Time (RT) Block Change, reflecting inattention and slowness. Epileptic children with ADHD symptoms had longer and more variable Hit RT than those without ADHD and controls. Higher full-scale IQ was significantly associated with less change in Hit RT, Hit RT block, standard error, and inter-stimulus intervals. There were no effects from age of onset, duration of having epilepsy, etiology of epilepsy, and brain anomaly on the CPT profiles.
Conclusion:
the findings suggest that children with epilepsy, despite not mentally retarded, may have attention deficits. Hence, screening for attention problems among patients with epilepsy regardless of intelligence level and ADHD symptoms is recommended to offset possible learning adversities of this population.
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