0413 Are High Intellectual Abilities a Protective Factor for Psycho-social Repercussions in Children with Narcolepsy?

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Narcolepsy can have deleterious impact on cognitive and psychosocial functioning. Adequate intellectual abilities are generally a protective factor for bio-psycho-social adjustments in chronic disorders. The main objective of this study was to describe sleep, cognitive abilities and psychosocial repercussions between children with narcolepsy and controls according to the intellectual abilities’ classification. Methods Children with narcolepsy and controls underwent one-night polysomnography, completed an intellectual abilities assessment (WISC) and filled in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale for children, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Children Depression Inventory and the Conners. Comparisons between children with narcolepsy and controls were made in two subgroups with High intellectual Potentialities (HP; with an IQ or a verbal or reasoning index higher or equal to 130 evaluated by the WISC) or without HP. Results The group with HP consisted of 25 children with narcolepsy (40% boys, median 11,5 years) and 25 controls (68% boys, median 11,7 years). Compared to the controls, the children with narcolepsy did not present the same intellectual profile at the WISC (lower perceptual reasoning index and less discrepancy between verbal and perceptual indexes). They had fewer conduct disorders and a tendency to have fewer school difficulties, learning disabilities, and impulsivity than controls. The group without HP consisted of 22 children with narcolepsy (55% boys, median 12,1 years) and 21 controls (68% boys, median 10 years). The children with narcolepsy presented the same intellectual profile at the WISC as their peers without narcolepsy, but they reported more school difficulties and higher insomnia scores. Compared to controls, both groups of children with narcolepsy had higher sleepiness scores and showed a classic pattern of narcolepsy characteristics on the PSG. There was no difference for the socio-economic level of parents between groups. Conclusion In children with narcolepsy, high intellectual abilities act as protective factor against the impact of the disease on cognitive and adaptive functioning, whereas normal-to-low intellectual abilities predict a greater impact of the pathology on daily-life functioning, highlighting the need for multifactorial management. Support (If Any) This work was supported by a French Grant from the SFRMS to Marine Thieux.