Abstract
Epilepsy is highly comorbid with psychiatric disorders and a significant amount of the morbidity related to epilepsy is in fact a result of psychiatric comorbidities. To investigate the frequency of different psychiatric comorbidities in children with refractory epilepsy. We present preliminary observational data from a series of patients (n=82) examined in the psychiatric branch of a tertiary epilepsy center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Patients were classified as presenting autism spectrum disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual development disorder, psychotic episode, dissociative/conversive disorders or others. We determined the frequency of each disorder, along with demographic data, medications prescribed, electroencephalogram findings and additional medical examinations and consultations. The most common comorbidities in our sample were autism spectrum disorders and ADHD. Antipsychotics and selective serotonin uptake inhibitors were the most commonly prescribed psychiatric medications. Knowledge about the prevalence of such comorbidities may provide more targeted interventions in Psychiatry and Psychology services linked to epilepsy centers.
Highlights
Epilepsy is a common condition worldwide that gives rise to a significant burden for patients
We aimed to describe the frequency of different psychiatric comorbidities and the use of psychotropic medications in a group of children and adolescents examined in a tertiary epilepsy center who were referred for pediatric psychiatric consultation, including children evaluated for epilepsy surgery
Autism (26.8%) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (26.8%) were the most common diagnoses in this sample, but all the other categories were present in the sample at frequencies beyond what would be expected from a sample without epilepsy (Table 1)
Summary
Epilepsy is a common condition worldwide that gives rise to a significant burden for patients. A Norwegian populationbased study among 0–17-year-olds revealed that 43% of the epileptic children had developmental or psychiatric comorbidities. Studies evaluating the presence of psychiatric comorbidities in children and adolescents with epilepsy tend to exclude samples indicated for surgery[3], which was not the case of our work here. Objective: To investigate the frequency of different psychiatric comorbidities in children with refractory epilepsy. Methods: We present preliminary observational data from a series of patients (n=82) examined in the psychiatric branch of a tertiary epilepsy center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Results: The most common comorbidities in our sample were autism spectrum disorders and ADHD. Conclusions: Knowledge about the prevalence of such comorbidities may provide more targeted interventions in Psychiatry and Psychology services linked to epilepsy centers
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