Parent- and Teacher-Reported Symptoms of ADHD in School-Aged Children With Active Epilepsy: A Population-Based Study. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reilly, Colin; Atkinson, Patricia; Das, Krishna B.; Chin, Richard F. M.; Aylett, Sarah E.; Burch, Victoria; Gillberg, Christopher; Scott, Rod C.; Neville, Brian G. R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of attention disorders. Volume 21:Number 11(2017)
• Page Start: 887
• Page End: 897
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: epilepsy -- attention -- parent -- teacher; Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Periodicals; Attention -- Periodicals; 616.8589
• DOI: 10.1177/1087054714558117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-0547

Abstract

Objective: Provide data on the distribution of parent- and teacher-reported symptoms of ADHD in childhood epilepsy and describe coexisting cognitive and behavioral disorders in children with both epilepsy and ADHD.Method: Eighty-five (74% of those eligible) children (5-15 years) in a population-based sample with active epilepsy underwent psychological assessment. The ADHD Rating Scale–IV (ADHD-RS-IV) scale was completed by parents ( n = 69) and teachers ( n = 67) of participating children with an IQ > 34. ADHD was diagnosed with respect to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.).Results: Parents reported significantly more symptoms of ADHD than teachers ( p < .001). Symptoms of inattention were more commonly reported than symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity ( p < .001). Neurobehavioral comorbidity was similar in those with ADHD and non-ADHD with the exception of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD), which were more common in those with both epilepsy and ADHD.Conclusion: Symptoms of ADHD are very common in childhood epilepsy but prevalence is influenced by informant.