title: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents With Epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in adolescents with epilepsy and the association with seizure-related and sociodemographic variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Strengths and Weakness of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Normal Behaviors rating scale was administered to 122 children with epilepsy and 50 children with asthma, aged 10 to 18 years attending mainstream schools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine (23.7%) adolescents with epilepsy compared with five (10%) with asthma had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (P = 0.037). Adolescents with epilepsy had a significantly higher score in the inattention subscale when compared with those with asthma (-0.25 ± 1.2 vs -0.64 ± 1.07, P = 0.049). Combined subtype was most frequent in the epilepsy group. Oppositional defiant disorders were more prevalent in those having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Psychiatric assistance had only been provided to one third of our patients with epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at the time of study. There was a negative correlation between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder scores and age of seizure onset. A positive correlation was observed between the number of antiepileptic drugs and the inattentive subscale score. The impact of various correlates on individual subtypes was not identical. Independent risk factors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were medical comorbidities (odds ratio = 12.82, 95% confidence interval 4.44, 37.03, P < 0.0001) and age at seizure onset (odds ratio = 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.56, 0.94, P = 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is overrepresented in adolescents with epilepsy; screening for its symptoms should be an integral part of management in adolescents with epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: kwonglk@ha.org.hk.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ngan
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Siu M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: adolescents; attention deficit hyperactivity disorders; epilepsy; oppositional defiant disorders