Maternal depression: the cost of caring for a child with intractable epilepsy.

The aims of this study were to: (1) determine the prevalence of depression and sleep disruption in mothers of children with intractable epilepsy, and (2) assess which family factors and neurologic/behavioral characteristics of a child with epilepsy correlate with maternal depression. Mothers of children aged 2-18 years with intractable epilepsy completed a Beck Depression Inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire for themselves, and a Child Behavior Checklist, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale, and Scale of Independent Behavior-Revised for their child. Charts were reviewed for age at seizure onset, seizure frequency and type, number of failed treatments, and presence of autism.

Depression, anxiety, and quality of life in siblings of children with intractable epilepsy.

Thirty-seven siblings (aged 6-18) of children with intractable epilepsy were surveyed regarding their anxiety, depression, and quality of life, by both self-report (Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, RCMAS; Children's Depression Inventory, CDI; and Peds QL) and parental report (Child Behavior Checklist, CBCL). Completed forms were returned by 37 of 58 (64%) eligible families. No sibling had a score in the clinical range on the CDI, and only 2 of 37 (6%) scored in the clinical range on the RCMAS, a proportion similar to the normative population.

Family function in cognitively normal children with epilepsy: impact on competence and problem behaviors.

A cross-sectional cohort of 82 cognitively normal children with epilepsy attending the pediatric neurology clinic, who were aged 6-17 years and who had a similarly aged sibling without seizures or cognitive delay, were identified. The parent was asked to complete the Family Assessment Measure III (FAM-III) as well as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for both the child with epilepsy and his or her sibling. The Overall Rating Score on FAM-III did not differ significantly from the normative mean, although families scored significantly better on the Involvement subscale and significantly worse on the Role Performance subscale.

Where do families of children with epilepsy obtain their information?

A structured interview of 84 families of children with epilepsy followed through the neurology clinic of a tertiary care children's hospital was conducted to assess the epilepsy-specific information sources accessed and the perceived accuracy of these sources. Families accessed a mean of 3.5 sources from or specifically recommended by the clinic or family doctor and 4.

Sleep disturbances in children with epilepsy compared with their nearest-aged siblings.

The aim of the study was to compare sleep patterns in children with epilepsy with those of their non-epileptic siblings and to determine which epilepsy-specific factors predict greater sleep disturbance. We conducted a case-control study of 55 children with epilepsy (mean age 10y, range 4 to 16y; 27 males, 28 females) and their nearest-aged non-epileptic sibling (mean age 10y, range 4 to 18y; 26 males, 29 females). Epilepsy was idiopathic generalized in eight children (15%), symptomatic generalized in seven (13%), and focal in 40 (73%); the mean duration was 5 years 8 months.

Is a fast necessary when initiating the ketogenic diet?

The purpose of this study was to determine time of onset of ketosis and efficacy when the classic ketogenic diet is initiated at full calories without a prior fast in children with epilepsy. A retrospective hospital and neurology clinic chart review was done of all 14 children commenced on the classic ketogenic diet at full calories without a prior fast between January 1, 1997, and May 31, 2001, to determine time to ketosis, time to good ketosis (urine ketones > or =80 mg/dL), and success of the ketogenic diet. Median age at diet initiation was 63 months (25th-75th percentile 47-149 months).