Behavior disorders of childhood

Abstract

One hundred patients with behavior disorders of childhood were studied from both clinical and EEG standpoints. Fifty-one per cent showed normal EEGs. Reasons for considering this as a primary, psychiatric group were discussed. This result and opinion is in conformity with the majority of previous clinical studies. Sixty-seven percent of the behavior disorders with focal EEG abnormality (40 cases) primarily involved the temporal regions, a percentage of localization in this region which was shown to be significantly higher than in a control group. The relationship between temporal abnormality, as indicated by EEG, and behavior disorders of childhood was considered to be a secondary, predisposing one. This relationship was also suggested by an incidence of behavior problems in 39% of another control group of 102 patients selected on the basis of their showing temporal EEG foci. Although this relationship has been postulated before, supporting evidence has been limited or non-existent in the majority of previous studies. The present results are presented in the belief that they afford more specific confirmation of the suspected relationship between temporal lobe dysfunction as indicated by EEG and the behavior disorders of childhood. A possible relationship between convulsive disorders and those behavior disorders of childhood that are associated with EEG abnormalities, and particularly those showing temporal foci, was considered. A control study showed essentially the same incidence of primary temporal foci in the behavior disorder group as in a convulsive group of children of the same age range. Five out of eleven behavior disorder patients showing EEG foci in their occipital and adjacent regions were found to have problems of learning in the presence of borderline or normal intelligence quotients. Learning problems were found in much lower incidence in behavior disorder patients showing either normal EEGs or other EEG abnormalities. The possible significance of this observation was discussed. Other findings, such as I.Q., past history, family history, and neurologic examination, were shown to correlate with the EEG findings, much as has been reported previously.