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Neurodevelopmental and psychiatric comorbidities in children with epilepsy

Maria Hafström1,2,3, Kirsten Mehlig4, Ingrid Olsson1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|May 16, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Children with active epilepsy frequently experience multiple neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and sleep disorders. Comprehensive, individualized follow-up is crucial for managing these combined conditions in pediatric epilepsy patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Active epilepsy in children is associated with a complex interplay of comorbidities.
  • Understanding the prevalence and patterns of these comorbidities is essential for effective management.
  • Previous research has highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to care in pediatric epilepsy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and sleep comorbidities in children with active epilepsy.
  • To investigate the occurrence of combined comorbidities within this pediatric population.
  • To identify specific comorbidity domains most frequently observed in children with active epilepsy.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based cross-sectional study including children (born 2003-2021) with active epilepsy in a Swedish region.
  • Utilized International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnoses for autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, ADHD, cerebral palsy, developmental disorders, psychiatric disorders, and sleep disorders.
  • Extracted healthcare data from hospitals, specialist care, habilitation centers, and primary care, including dispensed drug information.

Main Results:

  • Active epilepsy was diagnosed in 0.56% of children; 70% had at least one comorbidity.
  • 40% of children had diagnoses in three or more of the seven assessed comorbidity domains.
  • Psychiatric, psychological developmental, sleep, and intellectual disability domains were most frequent; comorbidity associations varied by sex.

Conclusions:

  • Children with active epilepsy exhibit a high risk for multiple neurodevelopmental and psychiatric comorbidities.
  • The findings underscore the necessity of individualized, comprehensive, and long-term follow-up for these children.
  • Early identification and management of comorbidities are critical for improving outcomes in pediatric epilepsy.
Abstract

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