title: Parental report of cognitive difficulties, quality of life and rehabilitation in children with epilepsy or treated for brain tumour.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paediatric neurological chronic conditions are often associated with physical, cognitive, psychological and behavioural difficulties that may affect quality of life (QOL) of children and their families. In this study, we compare parental report of difficulties and rehabilitation in children with various epileptic syndromes or treated for a benign or malignant brain tumour.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-three children aged between 6 and 12 years were included, 119 with epilepsy (non-idiopathic generalized 31, non-idiopathic partial 62, idiopathic 26) and 34 treated for a brain tumour. Parents answered a multidimensional questionnaire on child's autonomy and cognitive or behavioural difficulties, impact of the illness on their own everyday life, and rehabilitation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Learning difficulties were reported by a majority of parents in all groups. Behavioural and autonomy problems were more often reported in the non-idiopathic generalized epilepsy group. Report of tiredness was more frequent and of disrupting behaviour less frequent in the tumour group than in epilepsy. Impact of the child's illness on parents' QOL was strong in all groups, and stronger in case of severe forms of epilepsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parental concerns are important to consider for rehabilitation programmes adapted to each child with these neurological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Psychologie, Laboratoire de Psychologie et de Neurosciences cognitives-CNRS UMR 8189, Universite Paris Descartes, Boulogne Billancourt, France.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soria
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Callu
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Viguier
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Sabbagh
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bulteau
authors.forename: Francoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laroussinie
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dellatolas
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires