Evaluation of the Quality of Life and the Frequency of Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder in Children with Epilepsy

Epilepsy­ causes significant effects on child's physical and mental functions and is associated with different psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and quality of life (QOL) in children with epilepsy.
This study was conducted on 90 children that divided to 3 groups: chronic epilepsy, recent epilepsy (with diagnosis of less than a month), and control groups. In the first stage, all patients were screened with a questionnaire containing demographic data, ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS), Child-self report and Parent-proxy report as well as Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory TM (Peds QL™) forms. Then, the children were evaluated for definite diagnosis of ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria.
ADHD was diagnosed in 43.3%, 36.7% and 6.7% of chronic epilepsy, recent epilepsy, and control groups, respectively. There was a significant correlation between Parent-proxy report QOL score and the type of epilepsy. In analysis of QOL subgroups, the score of physical function and school performance were different in three groups. Children with ADHD had significantly lower total QOL score than non-ADHD children.
The physical function, school performance, and total QOL score of chronic epileptic children are lower than recent epileptic and non-epileptic children. The ADHD is more common in epileptic children than normal children. Screening and early treatment of ADHD in epileptic children may improve their QOL.