The relationship between psychiatric problems and gender in the presence of epilepsy in children and adolescents who referred to child psychiatry outpatient clinic

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine whether there is a difference between genders in terms of psychiatric diagnoses and symptom levels in epileptic children and adolescents. Methods: Diagnostic interviews were conducted with epileptic children and adolescents aged 6-17 and their parents who referred to child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic by a child psychiatrist. Depressive symptom levels of children were obtained by Child Depression Inventory and hyperactivity, inattentiveness, conduct, oppositional and anxiety levels were examined by Conner's Teacher and Parent Rating Scales. Results: Because of the psychiatric evaluations of the children, the incidence of anxiety disorders was significantly higher in females than males. Males had significantly higher levels of teacher reported hyperactivity than females. Female gender was shown to be an independent risk factor for anxiety disorders. It was found that the level of hyperactivity increased, as age decreased and male gender was an independent risk factor for hyperactivity problem. Discussion: Our study shows that while epileptic girls are especially at risk for anxiety disorders, boys for hyperactivity problems. It is proposed to develop preventive and supportive approaches to psychiatric problems that are likely to be seen according to gender in children and adolescents with epilepsy.