Patterns of cortical thickness and the Child Behavior Checklist in childhood epilepsy

The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the neuroanatomical correlates (cortical thickness) of variations in parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) scores. Ninety children with epilepsy (aged 8-18) underwent brain MRI, and their parents completed the CBCL. FreeSurfer-derived measures of cortical thickness were examined in relation to the CBCL broad and narrow band competence and behavioral problem scales, as well as the newer DSM-oriented scales. Parent reports of higher (better) social competence skills were associated with increased cortical thickness, especially in frontal regions. Parent reports of behavioral problems were associated with patterns of decreased cortical thickness that varied as a function of the specific behavioral issue under investigation. Congruence of patterns of cortical thinning between the DSM-oriented scales and conceptually related specific problem scales (e.g., ADHD Problems and Attention Problems) was generally weak. The parent-report version of the CBCL is associated with variations in cortical thickness among children with epilepsy. Anatomic abnormalities specific to selected competence and behavioral problem scales can be identified, with more reliable and robust patterns of thinning across scales assessing externalizing behaviors, with generally less prominent findings on scales assessing internalizing behaviors.