Abstracts

Childhood Absence Epilepsy (CAE) is associated with a high incidence of adverse behavioral and cognitive outcomes. As part of a large, multi-center trial of CAE we are obtaining a variety of behavioral and quality of life information using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QOLCE) at baseline and regular intervals thereafter. We present the baseline CBCL and QOLCE findings., To date, 153 subjects with newly diagnosed, untreated CAE have been enrolled. Included were 36 (24%) children under 6 year of age and 117 (76%) age 6 or older. All CBCL scores were reviewed by a central scorer (CO) to ensure accuracy and that problems were not counted twice. Results were then entered in a central database and computer scored. Baseline CBCL data has been coded and scored in 102 cases including 21 under age 6 and 81 age 6 or older. QOLCE scores were available in 33 (23%) children [lt] 6 years and 109 children (77%) [gt] age 6., The mean overall CBCL scores were 53.6 (s.d.11.6), with 20 (20%) of children with abnormal scores and 12 (12%) with borderline scores. Scores were similar for both the internalizing and externalizing groupings of syndromes. For the internalizing scale 17 (17%) of children had abnormal scores and 12 (12%) had borderline scores. Similarly, for the externalizing scale 17 (17%) had abnormal scores and 5 (5%) had borderline scores. There were no major differences in scores in younger versus older children. Attentional issues were the most commonly identified complaints though they only met DSM criteria in the older children.
The mean QOLCE scores in our sample were 72 and were similar in both younger and older children. These scores are substantially higher, indicating a better quality of life, than the mean score of 51 reported in the sample of children with intractable epilepsy on which the scale was normed., Approximately 30% of children with newly diagnosed CAE demonstrate abnormal or borderline scores on the CBCL indicating a high rate of potential problems. The QOL scores indicate less concerns than in children with refractory epilepsy. Long term follow-up of the cohort will demonstrate whether the problems in behavior and QOL improve or worsen with time and whether or not they will improve if seizures are successfully treated., (Supported by grants NS 045911 and NS 045803 from NINDS.)