Neuropsychiatric Comorbidity in Children with Epilepsy

Abstract

Background: Children with epilepsy often associated with various neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Many of the comorbidities have a significant impact on the medical management and quality of life of these patients. Objective: Children with epilepsy often associated with various neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Many of the comorbidities have a significant impact on the medical management and quality of life of these patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Epilepsy Clinic of the Department of Paediatrics, Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford hospital, Dhaka. Children aged 5 to 15 years with active epilepsy attending at the clinic constituted the study population. A total of 175 active epileptic children were enrolled in the study. Data were collected by pretested semi-structured questionnaire through a diagnostic interview of the study children to characterize the neuropsychiatric comorbidities. The data were analyzed using standard statistical analysis software IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20. The p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Epilepsy Clinic of the Department of Paediatrics, Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford hospital, Dhaka. Children aged 5 to 15 years with active epilepsy attending at the clinic constituted the study population. A total of 175 active epileptic children were enrolled in the study. Data were collected by pretested semi-structured questionnaire through a diagnostic interview of the study children to characterize the neuropsychiatric comorbidities. The data were analysed using standard statistical analysis software IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20. The p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Conclusion: Children with epilepsy need proper assessment for associated comorbidities. Treatment of these coexisting disorders is very important to achieve the best seizure control and overall quality of life for the patients and their families.