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Longitudinal trajectories of behavior problems and social competence in children with new onset epilepsy
Author(s) -
Zhao Qianqian,
Rathouz Paul J,
Jones Jana E,
Jackson Daren C,
Hsu David A,
Stafstrom Carl E,
Seidenberg Michael,
Hermann Bruce P
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.12549
Subject(s) - child behavior checklist , psychology , social competence , checklist , epilepsy , competence (human resources) , longitudinal study , developmental psychology , pediatrics , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , social change , social psychology , pathology , economics , cognitive psychology , economic growth
Aim To characterize the prospective trajectory of parent‐reported behavior and social competence problems in children with new or recent onset epilepsy from diagnosis to 5 to 6 years after diagnosis compared to healthy control participants. Method Thirty‐five children (21 males, 14 females; mean age 14y 1mo [SD 3y 4mo] range 8–18y) with new/recent onset idiopathic generalized ( IGE ) and 34 children with localization‐related epilepsies ( LRE ; 19 males, 15 females; mean age 10y 8mo [ SD 2y 2mo] range 8–18y) underwent behavioral assessment (Child Behavior Checklist) at baseline, 2 years, and 5 to 6 years after diagnosis. The assessment comprised the summary scales Total Behavior Problems Internalizing Problems, Externalizing Problems, and Total Competence. Sixty‐two children with normal development served as comparison participants. Analyses were based on random effects regression modeling comparing trajectories with respect to time since epilepsy diagnosis among groups. Results Differences in parent‐reported behavioral problems between LRE and IGE syndrome groups and healthy comparison participants were detectable at or near the time of diagnosis and remained either stable (competence) or tended to abate (behavior problems) over the ensuing 5 to 6 years without evidence of progressive worsening. These trends were evident for both LRE and IGE groups, with no differences between them. Interpretation Behavior and competence problems in children with LRE and IGE are not characterized by progressive worsening over a 5‐ to 6‐year period. Behavioral problems are present near the time of diagnosis and tend to abate over time, with competence problems being more persistent across serial assessments, and present in both LRE and IGE groups.