Kristin Å. Alfstad

Psychiatric symptoms in Norwegian children with epilepsy aged 8-13 years: effects of age and gender?

Purpose:  In this population‐based study we wanted to assess the prevalence and impact of psychiatric symptoms in children with epilepsy compared to controls, and investigate possible age and gender differences.

Gender differences in risk-taking behaviour in youth with epilepsy: a Norwegian population-based study.

Alfstad KÅ, Clench‐Aas J, Van Roy B, Mowinckel P, Gjerstad L, Lossius MI. Gender differences in risk‐taking behaviour in youth with epilepsy: a Norwegian population‐based study.
Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 124 (Suppl. 191): 12–17.
© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Psychiatric comorbidity in children and youth with epilepsy: An association with executive dysfunction?

OBJECTIVES Psychopathology in children and youth with epilepsy has previously been related to executive dysfunction, but the nature of the association is uncertain. We sought to explore risk factors for psychiatric disorders in children and youth with epilepsy, with emphasis on executive dysfunction, along with seizure-related and psychosocial factors. METHODS The cohort consisted of one hundred and one consecutive patients aged 10-19 years with focal (n=52) or genetic generalized (n=49) epilepsy. All were screened for psychiatric symptoms, using part of an extensive questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for both patients and their parents. Participants scoring in the borderline or abnormal range on the SDQ received a psychiatric interview (Kiddie-SADS-PL). All participants underwent a neuropsychological examination, and those with general cognitive abilities (IQ)<70 were excluded. RESULTS Forty-seven of 101 participants (46.5%) had a SDQ score in the borderline or abnormal range and underwent a psychiatric evaluation. Of these, 44 (93.6%) met the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis, the most common being ADHD and anxiety. An executive deficit was identified in 26.8% of the participants with a psychiatric diagnosis, but in only 5.4% of those without such a diagnosis (p=0.003). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that executive dysfunction was an independent risk factor for having a psychiatric disorder (OR 8.2, CI 1.8-37.2, p=0.006), along with male gender (OR 2.9, CI 1.2-7.3, p=0.02), and early seizure onset (0.86-that is one year older equals risk of psychiatric disorder reduced by 14%-CI 0.77-0.96, p=0.01). Other epilepsy-related or psychosocial factors were not significantly associated with psychiatric disorders. CONCLUSIONS Multiple factors are associated with psychiatric problems in children and youth with epilepsy. In this study, executive dysfunction, male gender, and early epilepsy onset were independent risk factors for having a psychiatric disorder. An evaluation of psychiatric and cognitive problems is important to enable a positive long-term outcome in childhood epilepsy.

Acute postoperative seizures after epilepsy surgery - a long-term outcome predictor?

Alfstad KÅ, Lossius MI, Røste GK, Mowinckel P, Scheie D, Borota OC, Larsson PG, Nakken KO. Acute postoperative seizures after epilepsy surgery – a long‐term outcome predictor?
Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 123: 48–53.
© 2010 The Authors Journal compilation

Sleep problems in children and adolescents with epilepsy: Associations with psychiatric comorbidity.

Sleep problems are common in pediatric epilepsy and may influence seizure control, daytime functioning, and overall quality of life. Knowledge of factors contributing to sleep problems is likely to improve treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between psychiatric comorbidity and parent-reported and self-reported sleep problems in a sample of children and adolescents with epilepsy. Participants were children and adolescents (N=94), aged 10-19years, with generalized or focal epilepsy who had been referred to a tertiary epilepsy treatment center in Norway. Participants underwent a thorough clinical assessment and 24h of EEG registration. Information on sleep problems was obtained from parents using the Childrens Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) and from self-reporting using the Sleep Self-Report (SSR) questionnaire. Psychiatric diagnoses were established using the semistructured psychiatric interview Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia - Present and Lifetime Version (Kiddie-SADS-PL). Both the total and subdomain CSHQ and SSR scores were high in comparison with scores from population-based samples. Having one or more psychiatric disorder(s) was significantly associated with elevated scores on both the CSHQ and the SSR. With the exception of parent-reported parasomnias, associations between sleep problems and psychiatric disorders remained significant after adjusting for relevant epilepsy variables. Psychiatric comorbidity explained about one-third of the variance of the reported sleep problems in children and adolescents with epilepsy.

Early sexual debut in Norwegian youth with epilepsy: A population-based study

OBJECTIVES In comparison with controls, youth with epilepsy (YWE) have greater psychosocial problems. However, information about their sexual behavior is sparse. We have performed a large, population-based questionnaire study to examine differences in sexual behavior between YWE and controls. METHODS A randomly chosen cohort of youth (13-19 years) from Akershus county, Norway (n=19,995) was asked to complete a questionnaire anonymously with questions on epilepsy and sexual activity. RESULTS The response rate was 85%. Two hundred forty-seven participants reported having or having had epilepsy, i.e., a lifetime epilepsy prevalence of 1.2%. Compared with controls, a higher proportion of YWE reported having had sexual intercourse (43.6% vs. 35.3%, p=0.009). The mean age at sexual debut was significantly lower in YWE than in controls (14.0 years vs. 15.0 years, p<0.001), and this was particularly marked among boys. A higher proportion of YWE reported not having used contraceptives at their last sexual intercourse compared with controls (31.6% vs. 22.3%, p=0.03). Ten percent of YWE, compared with 2% of the controls, reported that they had been forced into their first sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION In YWE, some aspects of sexual behavior differ from those of their peers, with earlier sexual debut and less frequent use of contraceptives. More attention should be directed toward this subject, aiming at avoiding unwanted pregnancies and potential emotional traumas in this already vulnerable patient group.

[Long-term adverse effects of anti-epileptic drugs].

Around 120,000 patients in Norway use anti-epileptic drugs daily. Their use has increased in recent years, partly because these drugs are also used for psychiatric disorders, migraine and neuropathic pain. Treatment usually lasts for many years. It is important for doctors to familiarise themselves with the adverse effect profile of these drugs, especially because the long-term adverse effects are generally insidious and are easy for both doctor and patient to overlook.

Young people with epilepsy have an increased risk of eating disorder and poor quality diet

To investigate whether adolescents with epilepsy are at increased risk of having self‐reported eating disorder symptoms and poor quality diet compared to young people from the general population.

Tested and reported executive problems in children and youth epilepsy

Executive problems in children and youth with epilepsy influence their ability to handle important aspects of daily life activities. The present study sought to explore factors associated with executive problems for patients with epilepsy in this age group.

Seponering av antiepileptika ved anfallsfrihet – når og hvordan?

In seizure-free patients with epilepsy, the question of whether, and if so when, it is acceptable to withdraw treatment may be difficult to answer. A thorough risk-benefit assessment should be undertaken with the patient and next of kin, during which the consequences of a relapse must be weighed against the disadvantages of continued administration of the drug. As a main rule, adult patients should have been seizure-free for at least two years before discontinuation is considered. In children with epilepsy with a known good prognosis, discontinuation may be considered even earlier.