Martinos MM, et al. - In this population-based cohort study, the researchers described behavioural and psychiatric outcomes of children within 10 years of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE). Eight years after CSE, a large proportion of children presented with behavioural issues. Findings underscored the need for behavioural screening in children with neurodevelopmental impairments post-CSE.

Methods

• The researchers identified children using the population-based North London Convulsive Status Epilepticus in Childhood Surveillance Study, who were followed-up between July 2009 and February 2013.
• They divided participants into epilepsy- and non-epilepsy-related CSE.
• Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire; and the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham questionnaire, they compared participants with population norms and healthy controls.
• Neuropsychiatric assessment was performed for children who scored above recommended clinical cut-offs on any scale.
• To identify clinically relevant covariates associated with behavioural outcomes, regression models were fitted.

Results

• A psychiatric disorder was observed in 28% of enrolled children, at a mean follow-up of 8.1 years post-CSE.
• Higher scores were obtained among children with epilepsy-related CSE than norms on all scales.
• Children with non-epilepsy-related CSE scored higher than norms on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire.
• In the group with epilepsy, presence of seizures at baseline and recurrence of CSE was associated with worse outcomes.
• In all participants, intellectual abilities were correlated with behavioural outcomes.