Psychopathology in children with epilepsy: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the types and severity of psychopathology in children with epilepsy.


METHODS
A series of meta-analyses were conducted to review 46 studies, including 2,434 children with epilepsy.


RESULTS
Effect sizes were medium to large for comparisons with children from the general population, which indicates that children with epilepsy are at increased risk for psychopathology, including internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Comparisons with children with another chronic illness revealed small to medium effect sizes, indicating that psychopathology in children with epilepsy may partly be attributed to chronicity of the disease. Attention problems, thought problems, and social problems proved to be relatively specific to epilepsy. Comparisons with siblings suggested that psychopathology in children with epilepsy may be associated with family factors, especially where behavioral disorders appear to be more generic.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians should consider both neurological and psychosocial factors, including the family system, when treating psychopathology in children with epilepsy.
Rodenburg
Roos
R
Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Educational Studies, University of Amsterdam, Wibautstraat 4, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. H.R.Rodenburg@uva.nl
Stams
Geert Jan
GJ
Meijer
Anne Marie
AM
Aldenkamp
Albert P
AP
Deković
Maja
M
D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans