Epilepsy May Cause Development Issues

Children who grow up suffering from epilepsy have a higher chance than their peers to experience psychiatric symptoms later on in life. Researchers identified that there is also a difference in the intensity and number of such symptoms between boys and girls with the condition.

In other words, it would seem that gender influences the type of developmental issue kids go through directly. The investigation that came to these conclusions were carried out on Norwegian children.

It was found that boys who suffered from epilepsy growing up were very likely to have difficulties regarding their relationship with their peers. They were also found to be more prone to developing hyperactivity and inattention problems.

On the other hand, girls were found to show few symptoms related to these conditions. However, they were more likely to encounter emotional problems than boys, and even more so than health peers.

The discoveries add additional evidence to past studies, which have demonstrated that children suffering from epilepsy are at an increased risk of suffering from behavioral problems and/or psychiatric disorders.

These conditions include anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the researchers report in the latest online issue of the medical journal Epilepsia.

“Multiple risk factors contribute to the high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, differently in boys and girls, it seems,” says Oslo University National Center for Epilepsy neurologist Kristin A. Alfstad, MD,.the leader of the new study.

“Identifying high risk groups may help clinicians who can implement interventions that prevent more serious psychiatric problems,” she goes on to say, quoted by PsychCentral.

“Boys and girls with epilepsy had more of these issues, but girls seemed to be more negatively affected by epilepsy than boys,” the expert adds for WebMD.

The research team conducted the investigation using data collected during a health profile questionnaire campaign that was carried out by the Norwegian Health Services Research Center in 2002.

Scientists say that more work is needed before a clear conclusion can be drawn on this issue. The data available thus far are oftentimes conflicting, and differences in research methodologies used over the years makes comparisons between conclusions difficult to make.