Behavioral Correlates of Electroencephalograms in Children with Epilepsy
Abstract number :
2.182
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
351
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
J.I. Koop, M.S., Psychology, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN; P.S. Fastenau, PhD, Psychology, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN; J.K. Austin, DNS, Nursing, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, IN;
RATIONALE: Epilepsy is known to be associated with neuropsychological deficits, psychosocial impairments and emotional and behavioral problems. Several studies have correlated neuropsychological impairments with the neurophysiological abnormalities of epilepsy in adults and recently in children (Koop et al, 2000). The present study investigates the effects of neurophysiological dysfunction on behavioral indices as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach, 1991).
METHODS: The primary caregivers of 363 children with epilepsy (212 recent-onset, 151 chronic; age, [underline]M[/underline]=9.23, SD=3.05; age at onset, [underline]M[/underline]=7.60, SD=3.47) were asked to complete the CBCL. The recent-onset and chronic groups did not differ on seizure severity, as inidcated by seizure frequency. Neurophysiological data were collected from the most recent EEG.
RESULTS: Results showed no significant effect for spike-waves or generalized abnormalities on the Total Behavior Problem, Internalizing or Externalzing scores in the total sample. There was a trend in the total sample for degree of slow-wave activity to correlate with the Internalizing and Total scores, [underline]p[/underline] [lt] 0.10. However, post-hoc analyses showed that the relationship was evident in the chronic sample only; among chronic children, slow-wave activity correlated with the Total score, [underline]r[/underline][sub]s[/sub](147) = 0.15, [underline]p[/underline] = 0.03, Internalizing score[underline]r[/underline][sub]s[/sub] (147) = 0.14, [underline]p[/underline] = 0.05, and Externalizing score,[underline]r[/underline][sub]s[/sub] (147) = 0.12, [underline]p[/underline] = 0.08, trend.
CONCLUSIONS: The difference between the two pediatric samples suggests the effects of neurophysiological dysfunction are cumulative rather than acute. The progressive nature of this relationship is partially supported by similar findings from a recent study of the neuropsychological impairments in children (Koop et al, 2000) and in adults with epilepsy (see Aldenkamp, 1997). [Supported by NIH/NINR and NIH/NINDS.]
Support: NIH/NINR and NIH/NINDS