Neurobehavioral problems in children with early-onset epilepsy: A population-based study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Neurobehavioral problems, including cognitive and behavioral issues, pose significant challenges in childhood epilepsy.
• Limited data exist for children with early-onset epilepsy (CWEOE), a critical period with high epilepsy incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence, spectrum, and risk factors of neurobehavioral problems in children with early-onset epilepsy (CWEOE).

Main Methods:

• A prospective, population-based, case-controlled study in South East Scotland.
• Utilized multisource capture-recapture surveillance to identify CWEOE and controls.
• Administered a neurobehavioral assessment battery across seven domains, including cognitive ability, adaptive behavior, and ASD risk.

Main Results:

• 63% of CWEOE exhibited neurobehavioral problems compared to 27% of controls (p < 0.01).
• Problems were multidimensional, with 43% of CWEOE experiencing issues in two or more domains.
• General cognitive ability impairment, adaptive behavior deficits, internalizing behaviors, social functioning difficulties, and ASD risk were particularly noted.

Conclusions:

• Neurobehavioral problems are common, detectable, and multidimensional in CWEOE.
• Co-occurrence of problems suggests they are the norm, necessitating multidimensional screening at epilepsy onset.
• Findings can inform health and educational policy for CWEOE.