Measures of psychopathology in children with complex partial seizures and primary generalized epilepsy with absence.
OBJECTIVE
This investigation examined psychopathology in 48 children with complex partial seizures (CPS), 39 children with primary generalized epilepsy with absence (PGE), and 59 nonepileptic children, aged 5 to 16 years, by comparing the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS).


METHODS
The CBCL was completed by parents and the K-SADS was administered to both parent and child.


RESULTS
The CBCL identified psychopathology in 26% and the K-SADS in 51% of the CPS and PGE patients (kappa = 0.32). The CPS and PGE groups had significantly higher mean CBCL scores, as well as higher rates of psychiatric diagnoses and symptoms of psychopathology, compared with the nonepileptic group. However, the CPS and PGE groups did not differ in these measures. Within each patient group, Full Scale IQ, but not seizure control, was associated with these measures of psychopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the K-SADS identifies more children with psychopathology than the CBCL in children with CPS and PGE.
Ott
D
D
Neuropsychiatric Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA. dott@mednet.ucla.edu
Caplan
R
R
Guthrie
D
D
Siddarth
P
P
Komo
S
S
Shields
W D
WD
Sankar
R
R
Kornblum
H
H
Chayasirisobhon
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000523:psychology*; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000523:psychology*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011599:Psychopathology