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Psychosocial and behavioral functioning and their relationship to seizure timing in children with benign epilepsy
Gonca Bektaş1, Uğur Tekin2, Edibe Pembegül Yıldız1
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) experiencing seizures after falling asleep may exhibit more behavioral difficulties. This study explored seizure timing and its impact on behavior in BECTS patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is associated with reported psychosocial and behavioral problems in children.
- Specific features linking BECTS to cognitive and behavioral issues remain undefined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify psychosocial and behavioral functioning in children with BECTS.
- To investigate the relationship between seizure timing and behavioral outcomes in BECTS.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 46 children with BECTS and 49 healthy controls (ages 7-16).
- Classified BECTS patients into two groups based on seizure timing: morning seizures vs. sleep-related seizures.
- Utilized Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for evaluations.
Main Results:
- No significant intelligence differences were found between BECTS groups and controls.
- Children with BECTS experiencing seizures shortly after falling asleep (group 2) showed significantly higher overall stress scores on the SDQ compared to controls.
- Children with morning seizures only (group 1) did not differ from controls in behavioral scores.
Conclusions:
- Seizure timing is a critical factor in BECTS-related behavioral issues.
- BECTS patients with seizures shortly after falling asleep may be at higher risk for behavioral difficulties.
Background:
Psychosocial and behavioral problems have been reported in children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). Distinctive features of typical BECTS associated with cognitive and behavioral problems have not clearly been defined.
Purpose:
We aimed to identify psychosocial and behavioral functioning and their relationship to seizure timing in BECTS.
Methods:
Consecutive patients with BECTS were recruited from the pediatric neurology outpatient clinic between May 2015 and May 2016. The patients were divided into two subgroups in according to seizure timing; group 1 consisted of patients with seizures only in the morning short before awakening, and group 2 consisted of patients with seizure shortly after falling asleep or in both time periods. Neuropsychological and behavioral evaluation in patients and healthy controls were examined using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised test and the Turkish version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
Results:
The participants comprised 46 children with BECTS and 49 healthy controls aged 7-16years. There was no significant difference between group 1, group 2, and control group regarding intelligence quantity in full-scale or verbal and performance subscales. Behavioral scores for overall stress significantly differed between group 2 and controls on the SDQ test, while group 1 and control group had no difference on the SDQ scores.
Conclusion:
Patients with BECTS who have seizure shortly after falling asleep may have a tendency towards behavior difficulties.
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