title: Socioeconomic deprivation is an independent risk factor for behavioral problems in children with epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine whether socioeconomic deprivation in children with epilepsy (CWE) increases risk for behavioral problems independent of seizure factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was done in which parents of children attending a specialist epilepsy clinic were invited to complete a child behavior checklist (CBCL) questionnaire about their child. Medical and sociodemographic data on CWE were obtained through their pediatric neurologists. Home postal code was used to obtain quintiles of Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2012 (SIMD2012) scores for individuals. Lower (1-3) quintiles correspond to higher socioeconomic deprivation. Regression analysis was used to investigate whether a lower quintile was an independent risk factor for scores >63 (significant behavioral problem).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents of 87 children (42 male, mean age of 10.5years) were enrolled. Fifty-nine percent had total scores >63. A higher proportion of children from quintiles 1-3 compared to those from quintiles 4-5 had externalizing (49% vs. 25%, p=0.02) and total (54% vs. 30%, p=0.02) scores >63. Adjusted OR of quintiles 1-3 vs. 4-5 for scores >63=14.8, 95% CI=3.0, 68.0. Fewer children with scores >63 and from quintiles 1-3 were known to the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) compared to those in quintiles 4-5 (p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic deprivation was an independent risk factor for behavioral problems in CWE. Children with epilepsy and behavioral problems who lived in socioeconomically deprived areas received less help.
authors.affiliation: The University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.affiliation: The University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.affiliation: The University of Edinburgh, UK; Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, UK; Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, UK. Electronic address: r.chin@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Ailsa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McLellan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Behavior; Deprivation; Epilepsy