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Psychiatric disorder and cognitive function in children with epilepsy in Kerala, South India
R Hackett1, L Hackett, P Bhakta
1School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
Insights
Childhood epilepsy in developing countries is linked to significant cognitive and psychiatric issues. Children with epilepsy showed poorer educational performance and higher rates of psychiatric disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Global Health
Background:
- Cognitive and psychiatric impacts of childhood epilepsy are understudied in developing nations.
- Epilepsy affects children globally, necessitating research into its associated challenges in diverse settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cognitive and psychiatric associations of childhood epilepsy in a developing country context.
- To compare educational and psychiatric outcomes of children with epilepsy to matched controls.
Main Methods:
- Population-based epidemiological study of 1403 children aged 8-12 in Kerala, South India.
- Cognitive assessments included reading, vocabulary, and non-verbal reasoning.
- Psychiatric symptoms were evaluated using standardized questionnaires and clinical interviews.
Main Results:
- Children with epilepsy performed similarly to controls on non-verbal reasoning but showed deficits in vocabulary and reading.
- A higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders was observed in children with epilepsy compared to controls.
- Educational disadvantages were noted in children with epilepsy.
Conclusions:
- Childhood epilepsy in this population is associated with a substantial burden of cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities.
- There is a need for increased recognition and improved service provision for children with epilepsy and their associated disorders.
- Findings highlight the importance of addressing both neurological and psychosocial aspects of epilepsy in resource-limited settings.
Abstract:
The cognitive and psychiatric associations of childhood epilepsy have not been studied in developing countries. Children with epilepsy were identified during a population-based epidemiological study of 1403 8- to 12-year-old children in Kerala, South India. They were compared with age-, sex- and social class-matched controls on measures of reading, vocabulary, non-verbal reasoning and school performance. In addition, psychiatric symptoms were measured using standard questionnaires and the presence or absence of psychiatric disorder was established by interview. Patients performed as well as controls on the non-verbal test, but performed worse on tests of vocabulary and reading, suggesting a specific disadvantage in the area of education. Psychiatric disorder was more prevalent in the children with epilepsy. It was concluded that epilepsy in the population studied is accompanied by a significant burden of cognitive and psychiatric disorders which need recognition and adequate service provision.