Anti-epileptic therapy and behaviour disturbances in children.
In order to evaluate the effects on behaviour of some anti-epileptic drugs, we studied 300 children treated with phenobarbital and other drugs; their age ranged from 3.1 months to 15.9 years. The children were divided into two groups: group A: 197 (116 male and 81 female) children, mean age +/- SD 5.3 +/- 2.8 years, treated with phenobarbital; group B: 103 (66 male and 37 female) children, mean age 6.4 +/- 3.1 years, treated with anti-epileptic drugs other than phenobarbital. In all patients hyperactivity, irritability, disturbances of sleep, and drowsiness were investigated. The parents of patients completed a questionnaire with seven items. In group A, 150 (76.1%) children showed one or more behaviour disturbances, while in Group B a smaller number of patients 32 (31%) had such disorders. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.0001). The most frequent disorder was hyperactivity. The results of this study suggest that anti-epileptic drugs, in particular phenobarbital, can cause behaviour disturbances.
Domizio
S
S
Department of Neonatology, University of Chieti, Ospedale Pediatrico, Italy.
Verrotti
A
A
Ramenghi
L A
LA
Sabatino
G
G
Morgese
G
G
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000188:drug therapy
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010634:Phenobarbital