The Attention Network And Behavior Of Children With Idiopathic Or Cryptogenic Epilepsy

Objective:To study the attention network,the behavioral problems and self-concept of children with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy and the related agents.Material and Methods:46 children with newly diagnosed idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy and 42 age-matched healthy controls were recruited and tested by Attention Network Test(ANT).The relationship between ANT and the related agents was analyzed by Bivariate Correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression.A total of 68 children with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy were also assessed with Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL) and Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale(PHSS).The results were compared with the Chinese norm and the regression analyze was conformed.Results:There were significant differences in executive control efficiency and overall mean reaction time(p＜0.05) between the seizure group and the control group.Although the data showed a trend of rising altering and orienting scores for patients in comparison with controls,the differences between groups for alerting and orienting network scores as well as inaccuracy were not significant(p＞0.05).The study in the correlations of the scores for the ANT with gender,age,education,duration of epilepsy,age at onset and seizure frequency showed that the efficiencies of alerting and executive control, inaccuracy as well as the overall mean reaction time of ANT were negatively correlated with age,education and age at onset of epilepsy(p＜0.05 or p＜0.01).Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that education and age at onset were significantly associated with the efficiency of executive control and education was the most significant factor effecting on the overall mean reaction time of ANT(p＜0.05).Our study also showed that the ratio of the children with abnormal behavior was 44.12%and significantly higher than the Chinese norm.And the scores of PHSS in children with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy were lower than the Chinese norm.Moreover,the status of seizure control was the significant factor influencing the behavioral problems. And the gender and age at onset of epilepsy were also the important factors. Conclusions:Children with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy have selective impairment in the executive control attentional network,which is not the consequence of the antiepileptic drugs treatment.Among seizure-related agents age at onset of epilepsy is significantly important but not sufficient to determine severity of deficits in attention.With the earlier age at onset of epilepsy attentional difficulties arise more frequently.And the children with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy have behavioral disorders and low self-concept.With the well control of seizure the children have the low frequency in behavioral and psychiatric disorders.The boys with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy have higher risk of behavioral disorders than the girls.Moreover, with the earlier age at onset of epilepsy the children have the higher risk of behavioral and self-concept problems.