A Study on Behavioral Disorders, Academic Difficulties, and Parental Handling Patterns in Children with Epilepsy

Various psychiatric comorbidities have been reported in children with epilepsy (CWE), but Indian data on the same are lacking. This study was undertaken with the aim to find the prevalence and type of behavioral problems in CWE, academic difficulties, and parental handling patterns. Sixty-five patients of CWE and 65 controls were recruited after ethics approval and parent consent. All children were interviewed and diagnosed for psychopathology as per ICD-10 criteria, along with Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Parental handling questionnaire was used to assess the patterns of care or control among parents. Academic difficulties were assessed using open- and closed-ended questions. Behavioral disorders were seen in 44.6% of CWE when compared with 12% of the control group. Hyperkinetic disorders were significant in CWE. Conduct and oppositional defiant disorders were not so prevalent. On Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, a significant difference was seen on domains of hyperactivity and prosocial behavior in CWE when compared with controls, whereas emotional, conduct, peer problems, and total difficulty scores revealed no significant differences in both the groups. Academic difficulties were more in CWE, although absenteeism was not seen in both the groups. Parents of CWE had significant scores on care and control domains and were more overprotective and rigid in their behaviors when compared with the control group parents. Significant behavioral disorders are seen in CWE, which entails the need to have a multidisciplinary approach for early diagnosis and better control of symptoms. Parental awareness and appropriate parenting need to be emphasized for better prognosis in CWE.