title: Parent-reported subjective complaints in children using antiepileptic drugs: what do they mean?
abstract: We used a parent-completed 20-item "side effect scale" quantifying complaints that parents perceive to be caused by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in 108 children with active epilepsy. We studied the associations between parent-reported complaints, severity of seizures, and restrictions due to epilepsy, and clinical data including number and AED load. In 85% of the children at least one complaint was reported, in less than 20% complaints were perceived as a substantial problem. In a multivariate analysis, there was no significant relationship between the "side effect scale" score and AED load, or the number of AEDs. However, complaints were associated with parent-reported frequency and severity of seizures. We conclude that the adverse effects of seizures or parental concern about the severity and intractability of seizures in their children may have influenced the reported complaints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, Westeinde Hospital and Juliana Children's Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands
authors.forename: Johannes A.
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carpay
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stroink
authors.forename: Oebele F.
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: A C.
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Boudewyn Peters
authors.forename: Albert P.
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Aldenkamp
authors.forename: Cees A.
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: van Donselaar
authors.forename: Willem F.M.
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Arts