Abstracts

Epilepsy in children and youth can be associated with psychosocial problems. Most studies have been performed in selected groups with difficult-to-treat-epilepsy. The aim of the present study was to assess risk-taking behaviour like drug abuse and tendency to criminal behaviour among children and youth with epilepsy in a population-based study. The study was cross-sectional and based on questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed at school during a lesson. 10.924 questionnaires were administered to junior high school (age 13-16) and 13.420 to high school (age 16-19). Response rate was 86% in junior high school and 79% in high school. 241/19985 (1.2%) reported having epilepsy. Risk taking behaviour was more common in children with epilepsy compared to children without. We found significant higher use of cannabis (15.5% compared to 9.2%, p[lt] 0.001), narcotic tablets (10.5% compared to 5.8%, p= 0.003) and narcotics intravenously (5% compared to 1%) among adolescents with epilepsy. We also found a significant increased tendency to criminal behaviour like breaking an entry to steal, in patients with epilepsy (11.2 % compared to 5.5%, p[lt]0.001). : In our population based study we found increased risk taking behaviour among children and youth with epilepsy compared to those without epilepsy. To explore this finding we are performing a more detailed analysis of the relation between different factors in relation to the epilepsy group and other groups of patients.