Abstracts

Rationale: Studies have failed to demonstrate a consistent association between child behavioral problems and either epileptic syndrome or seizure frequency. We monitored behavior and seizure control prospectively over a 36-month period in otherwise healthy children with new-onset seizures. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of epileptic syndrome and seizure control with behavioral outcome at 36 months after controlling for baseline behavior. Methods: Subjects were 261 children 6-14 years of age who had experienced a first recognized seizure and, as controls, 168 siblings 2-18 years of age. Behavior was measured at baseline and 36 months using the Child Behavior Checklist. Descriptions of seizures and seizure control were obtained from parents and chart review at baseline, 18 and 36 months. Epileptic syndrome was defined using standard ILAE criteria. Seizures were called recurrent if there were new seizures at one but not all follow-up assessments and persistent if new seizures were reported at each follow-up. Results: At 36 months, 63 children had no recurrent seizure, 165 had recurrent seizures, and 33 had persistent seizures. The children with persistent seizures had more problems than siblings, than those with no recurrent seizure, and than those with recurrent seizures (p<0.05) on somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, social problems, and attention problems scores. Children with persistent seizures were significantly worse than siblings and than those with no recurrent seizures for internalizing problems and than siblings for aggressive behavior. In contrast, there was no difference in scores for epileptic syndrome.