Abstracts

Rationale: The relationship between subjective memory complaints and objective memory performance has been explored in a number of adult populations, including patients with epilepsy. Results suggest that subjective memory is often more related to mood than to actual memory performance. While there is much data documenting memory deficits in children with epilepsy using standardized tests, there is little research examining subjective memory complaints. The few studies that have been conducted suggest that, similar to findings in adults, children s subjective memory relates more to mood than to objective memory performance. The current study was designed to: 1) replicate prior research examining the relationship between subjective and objective memory in children with epilepsy and 2) extend prior research by examining the relationship between caregivers ratings of their child s memory and the child s objective memory performance. Methods: As part of a neuropsychological battery, thirty-six pediatric patients (male=20; mean age=10.50, SD=2.59) with epilepsy (focal=24; generalized=12) completed a objective measure of memory [Children s Memory Scale (CMS)] as well as self-report measures of memory [Child Memory Scale (srCMS)], depression [Children s Depression Inventory (CDI)], and anxiety [Revised Children s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS-2)]. Mean age at seizure onset was 6.01 years (SD=3.02) and mean duration of epilepsy was 4.43 years (SD=2.93). Average Full Scale IQ was 82.19 (SD=13.80) and mean education level was 5.05 years (SD=2.73). Caregivers also completed a questionnaire exploring child s memory [Child Memory Scale Parent Form (CMSPF)]. The CMSPF consists of a total score, a Prospective Memory Factor (PM), and a Learning and Retrieval Factor (LR). Results: Bivariate Pearson correlations revealed that children s subjective memory complaints related to depression (r=-.458, p<.05) and anxiety (r=-.577, p<.01), but not to objective memory performances (r range =.037 to .363). In contrast, caregiver reports of child s memory were significantly related to objective memory performance. Specifically, the LR factor of the CMSPF significantly correlated with the verbal memory indices of the CMS (r=.423 to .544, p<.01) and the CMS General Memory Index (r=.507, p<.01), but not the visual index scores (r=.174 to .326). The total CMSPF score significantly correlated with the CMS General Memory Index (r=.359, p<.05). PM did not significantly correlate with any CMS indices (r=.056 to .294). Interestingly, the CMSPF was not significantly related to srCMS (r=-.045 to .114), CDI (r=.002 to .137) or RCMAS (r=-.088 to -.152). Conclusions: Consistent with the limited pediatric literature, self-reported memory in children with epilepsy is more related to mood and anxiety than to actual memory ability. Expanding on previous research, this study found that caregivers report of child s memory ability more accurately reflects performance on objective memory tests than child s self-report of memory.