Intelligence Structure Of Children With Epilepsy, Personality And Behavioral Characteristics Of Study

Objective: To eveluate the intelligence profile,personality,and behaviour disorders in children with idiopathic generalized tonic and/or clonic seizures.Methods: Using Chinese modification of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children,Eysenk personality questionnaire(EPQ),and Achenbach child behaviour chechlist to make neuropsychological assessment among 35 cases aged 6-14 years and matched controls.Results: Excepting picture completion ,all the subtests scales of children with epilepsy were significantly lower than those of the controls (P<0.01). A significant difference of average FIQ(P<0.001) was existed between experimental group (85.86) and control group (103.60).We found broderline range FIQ in 13 cases(37.14%), lower range FIQ in 11 cases(14.29%) but none abnormal in the controls.The children with epilepsy had more abnormal behaviours than the controls(abnormal rates were 38.71% and 6.45% respectively).Statistical analysis showed no difference of EPQ scales between the two groups.Conclusions: Children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy tended to have cognitive deficit and behaviour disorder.Such problems should be carefully considered by clinicians and appropriate treatment as well as education programme are required in order to improve the prognosis and quality of life.