CHICAGO – Boys with epilepsy might be more susceptible to risk-taking behavior, according to a large cross-sectional population-based study.
Investigators in Norway distributed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) during regular school hours to 19,995 youth aged 13–19 years. Of these, 247 (1.2%) self-reported having or having had epilepsy.
Youths with epilepsy were significantly more likely to report drinking alcohol on a daily basis (5.4% vs. 0.9%) to have tried illegal substances, excluding marijuana (10.4% vs. 5.2%) and to have been involved in criminal offenses such as fighting with a weapon, stealing property, or threatening someone to obtain money (16.6% vs. 8.1%). The differences were all significant at a P value of less than .001, Dr. Kristin Alfstad and her associates reported in a poster at the conference, which was jointly sponsored by the EDDC and the office of continuing education of Elsevier, publisher of this newspaper.
The increased prevalence of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with epilepsy is well known and thought to originate in both biological and psychosocial factors. What is less frequently studied is whether youth with epilepsy also might be more susceptible to risk-taking behavior.
“Screening for these behavior problems should be considered, perhaps especially in boys with epilepsy,” she said.
The study was funded by the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.