The risk of psychopathology in children with craniosynostosis.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of behavioral and emotional problems in patients with craniosynostosis and to determine the prospective association of a beaten-copper pattern before 18 months of age with behavioral and emotional problems in patients with craniosynostosis.


METHODS
The authors performed a follow-up study of 115 craniosynostosis patients at the Erasmus Children's University Hospital in Rotterdam. Behavioral and emotional problems were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist at a mean age of 8 years. The presence of beaten-copper pattern before the age of 18 months was assessed on presurgical radiographs. Analyses were adjusted for intelligence quotient.


RESULTS
Whereas craniosynostosis patients with intelligence quotients of 85 or greater did not differ from children in the normal group, craniosynostosis patients with intelligence quotients less than 85 had a higher risk of behavioral and emotional problems. However, these results were comparable to the findings of other studies assessing psychopathology in children with lower intelligence levels. Type of craniosynostosis (single suture versus complex) and a beaten-copper pattern before the age of 18 months did not affect the risk for behavioral and emotional problems in children with craniosynostosis.


CONCLUSIONS
When intelligence is taken into account, craniosynostosis is not associated with an increased risk of behavioral and emotional problems, nor is type of craniosynostosis or a beaten-copper pattern before the age of 18 months.
van der Vlugt
Joris J B
JJB
Rotterdam, The Netherlands From the Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Radiology and the Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences, Erasmus Medical Center.
van der Meulen
Jacques J N M
JJNM
Creemers
Hanneke E
HE
Willemse
Sten P
SP
Lequin
Maarten L
ML
Okkerse
Jolanda M E
JME
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011584:Psychology; D011599:Psychopathology; D011859:Radiography; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological