High prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in children and adolescents at a tertiary epilepsy center

ABSTRACT

Background: Epilepsy is highly comorbid with psychiatric disorders and a significant amount of the morbidity related to epilepsy is in fact a result of psychiatric comorbidities. Objective: To investigate the frequency of different psychiatric comorbidities in children with refractory epilepsy. Methods: We present preliminary observational data from a series of patients (n=82) examined in the psychiatric branch of a tertiary epilepsy center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Patients were classified as presenting autism spectrum disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual development disorder, psychotic episode, dissociative/conversive disorders or others. We determined the frequency of each disorder, along with demographic data, medications prescribed, electroencephalogram findings and additional medical examinations and consultations. Results: The most common comorbidities in our sample were autism spectrum disorders and ADHD. Antipsychotics and selective serotonin uptake inhibitors were the most commonly prescribed psychiatric medications. Conclusions: Knowledge about the prevalence of such comorbidities may provide more targeted interventions in Psychiatry and Psychology services linked to epilepsy centers.

RESUMO

Introdução: Epilepsia é altamente comórbida, com transtornos psiquiátricos, e uma parte significativa da morbidade da epilepsia se associa com os transtornos psiquiátricos comórbidos. Objetivo: Investigar a frequência de diferentes comorbidades psiquiátricas em crianças com epilepsia refratária. Métodos: Apresentamos dados observacionais preliminares de uma amostra de pacientes (n=82) avaliados no setor de Psiquiatria de um centro terciário de tratamento de epilepsia no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Pacientes foram classificados como apresentando transtorno do espectro autista, transtorno do humor, transtorno de ansiedade, transtornos disruptivos, transtorno do déficit de atenção de hiperatividade (TDAH), transtorno do desenvolvimento intelectual, episódio psicótico, transtornos dissociativos/conversivos e outros. Foram determinados frequência de cada transtorno, bem como dados demográficos, medicações prescritas e achados de eletroencefalograma. Resultados: As comorbidades mais comuns na nossa amostra foram transtornos do espectro autista e TDAH; antipsicóticos e inibidores seletivos da recaptura de serotonina (ISRS) foram as medicações psiquiátricas mais comumente prescritas. Conclusões: Conhecimento acerca da prevalência dessas comorbidades pode facilitar a instituição de intervenções mais precisas em serviços de Psiquiatria e Psicologia vinculados a centros de tratamento de epilepsia.

Keywords:

Epilepsy - Comorbidity - Children

Palavras-chave:

Epilepsia - Comorbidade - Crianças

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