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Seizures in children with epilepsy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Zeynep Goker1, Arzu Yilmaz2, Ayse Nihal Eraslan3
1Department of Child Psychiatry, Ankara Child Health and Diseases Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 11.8% of children with epilepsy. Children with epilepsy and ADHD show higher rates of intellectual disability and learning disorders, warranting careful monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Epilepsy is a neurological disorder often co-occurring with attention difficulties.
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common comorbidity in children with epilepsy.
- Understanding the interplay between epilepsy and ADHD is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of ADHD in children diagnosed with epilepsy.
- To compare seizure features and comorbidities between children with epilepsy and ADHD versus those with epilepsy alone.
- To identify potential risk factors and associated conditions in pediatric epilepsy patients with ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective collection of hospital admission data for children aged 5-18 years with epilepsy between January 2017 and January 2018.
- Statistical analysis using SPSS 17.0, with a significance level of P < 0.05.
- Comparison of demographic, clinical, and comorbidity data between epilepsy patients with and without ADHD.
Main Results:
- Out of 301 epilepsy patients, 32 (10.6%) had ADHD.
- The epilepsy + ADHD group had a younger median age at epilepsy diagnosis (6 vs. 8 years, P = 0.003).
- Children with epilepsy and ADHD exhibited significantly higher rates of intellectual disability (31.3% vs. 12.6%, P = 0.014) and specific learning disorder (12.5% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.009).
Conclusions:
- ADHD is a significant comorbidity in children with epilepsy, particularly in younger age groups.
- Children with co-occurring epilepsy and ADHD have a higher burden of intellectual disability and specific learning disorders.
- Early identification and monitoring for ADHD in young children diagnosed with epilepsy are recommended.
Background:
Epilepsy is an important disorder that is sometimes accompanied by inattention problems. This study explored the features of seizures in children with epilepsy, with or without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods:
Between January 2017 and January 2018, data records of children with epilepsy aged 5-18 years admitted to hospital were retrospectively collected. SPSS 17.0 was used for analyses and P < 0.05 was accepted as significant.
Results:
Of 301 patients with epilepsy, 32 of them had ADHD. Median age at diagnosis of epilepsy in the epilepsy + ADHD group was lower than in the epilepsy alone group (6 vs 8 years; z = -2.989, P = 0.003). The two groups were similar in terms of duration of epilepsy, seizure types and features of complicated versus non-complicated epilepsy, number of anti-epileptic drugs (AED) used (for all, P > 0.05). The epilepsy + ADHD group had a significantly higher prevalence of intellectual disability (31.3% vs 12.6%; χ2 (1) = 7.9, P = 0.014) and specific learning disorder (12.5% vs 1.9%; χ2 (1) = 11.1, P = 0.009) than the epilepsy alone group (χ2 (1) = 11.1, P = 0.009). ADHD medication use was identified in 68.8% of children in the epilepsy + ADHD group.
Conclusion:
Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder was identified in 11.8% of 5-18-year-old children (32/301) with epilepsy in a 1 year period. ADHD is more frequent in children with epilepsy in childhood (5-11 years of age). Epilepsy diagnosis is more frequent in younger children with ADHD. Children with epilepsy and ADHD, also have a significantly higher prevalence of intellectual disability and specific learning disorder. Younger children diagnosed with epilepsy should be carefully monitored for ADHD.
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