title: Behavioral and emotional problems in children and adults with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In patients with cerebral palsy (CP), psychological problems influence their participation in society. Little is known about the persistence of behavioral and social problems into adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a two-center cross-sectional study, caregivers of 121 adults and 88 children were ask to assess behavior of the patients through the parent/caregiver forms of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale II (VABS). Questionnaires were returned from 43 adults and 39 children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups we found the same frequency of abnormalities in attention problems (32.4 vs. 36.1%, p = 0.826) and social interaction problems (32.3 vs. 33.3%; p = 0.926) in the CBCL, and peer problems (38.9 vs. 75.7%; p = 0.115) in the SDQ. Children show a lower percentage of abnormal prosocial behavior (41.7 vs. 16.2%, p = 0.016) and lower abnormal rates of communication (88.2 vs. 61.5; p = 0.01) and daily living skills (90.0 vs. 71.8; p = 0.041), whereas the level of abnormalities in both groups in these dimensions of VABS notably high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The persistence of psychological and social problems from childhood into adulthood underlines the importance of focusing on early intervention.
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, University Children's Hospital Basel, Division of Neuropediatrics and Developmental Medicine, Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: Peter.Weber@ukbb.ch.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, University Children's Hospital Basel, Division of Neuropediatrics and Developmental Medicine, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bolli
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, University Children's Hospital Basel, Division of Neuropediatrics and Developmental Medicine, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heimgartner
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, University Children's Hospital Basel, Division of Neuropediatrics and Developmental Medicine, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pierina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merlo
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, University Children's Hospital Basel, Division of Neuropediatrics and Developmental Medicine, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tonia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zehnder
authors.affiliation: Rehab Basel, Center of Rehabilitation, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kätterer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adults; Behavioral problem; Cerebral palsy; Children; Communication problems; Emotional problems