title: Neurocognitive and psychosocial function in children with benign external hydrocephalus (BEH)-a long-term follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term impact of benign external hydrocephalus (BEH) on cognition is largely unknown, and indication for neurosurgical CSF diversion procedure is debated. This study reports neuropsychological and psychosocial function in operated and non-operated BEH children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six children (76 males) between 8 and 18 years (mean 13.9) diagnosed with BEH before 12 months were included, of whom 30.2 % were operated. Participants completed neuropsychological tests and questionnaires covering quality of life (PedsQL) and executive function (BRIEF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both operated and non-operated BEH children performed significantly below normative means on several neuropsychological tests. The children scored themselves higher than the norm average on PedsQL; however, the parents reported life quality comparable to other children. Operated children performed poorer compared with non-operated children on tests of psychomotor speed, attention span, executive function, motor speed and coordination, and on the BRIEF subscale Monitoring. Operated children, but not their parents, reported more problems on PedsQL subscale School than non-operated children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with BEH display long-term subtle neurocognitive difficulties. Non-operated children performed significantly better on some neuropsychological measures and reported less psychosocial problems. This difference may be caused by a selection bias: neurosurgical intervention was more likely in children with clinically more pronounced symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Rebecka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Linn Nilsen
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Rødevand
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ulrikke Straume
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Wiig
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Aalesund Hospital, Aalesund, Norway.|Department of Clinical Medicine K1, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Sverre Morten
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences for Children, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Torhild
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berntsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences for Children, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne-Britt
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Skarbø
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Arild
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Egge
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Eirik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Helseth
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.|Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Stein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine K1, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. kgwe@helse-bergen.no.|Department of Neurosurgery, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway. kgwe@helse-bergen.no.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8489-3931
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wester
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011817:Rabbits; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Benign external hydrocephalus (BEH); Cognition; Neuropsychology; Psychosocial function; Quality of life