Differentiating between Seizure Disorders and ADHD in a Pediatric Population
Abstract number :
D.06
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
2821
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
M.L. Griebel, MD, Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR; J.P. Williams, PhD, Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR; G.B. Sharp, MD, Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Scienc
RATIONALE: Behavioral descriptors are a key clinical tool used to differentiate between new onset seizures and other diagnoses such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As these two disorders may have overlapping symptoms, specific behavioral descriptors that differentiate between seizures and ADHD are important to the diagnostic process.
METHODS: At the time of diagnosis, parents of 82 children with new onset seizures and 119 children with ADHD affirmed or denied the presence of 13 critical items (i.e., eyes look glassy, jerking/twitching, stiffening, failure to respond, inability to remember the event, changes in breathing, staring, drooling, unusual mouth movements, biting of the tongue, mumbling, turning the eyes or head to one side, and fidgeting) from the Seizure Behavior Checklist.
RESULTS: A forward stepwise regression analysis was completed on the 13 critical items. Four descriptors significantly distinguished between the groups and accounted for 73% of the variance. The descriptors included: eyes look glassy, fidgets, jerking/twitching, and changes in breathing. When children were rated positively for glassy eyes and negatively for fidgets, 96% of the seizure patients were correctly classified. When children did not experience changes in breathing, did not have glassy eyes, and were noted to fidget, 96% of the children with ADHD were correctly classified.
CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that inquiring about the presence or absence of these four behaviors (i.e., glassy eyes, fidgets, jerking/twitching, and changes in breathing) may be helpful in the diagnostic process when differentiating between seizure and non-seizure behaviors.