Formal thought disorder and psychopathology in pediatric primary generalized and complex partial epilepsy

Rochelle Caplan, Shoshana Arbelle, Donald Guthrie, Scott Komo, W. Donald Shields, Rebecca Hansen, Sirichai Chayasirisobhon

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    57 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Objective: To examine whether formal thought disorder and psychopathology occurred in children with complex partial seizures (CPS) rather than children with primary generalized epilepsy with absences (PGE) or nonepileptic children. Method: Formal thought disorder was coded in 30 children with CPS, 24 children with PGE, and 61 nonepileptic children, and structured interview-based psychiatric diagnoses were obtained for the epileptic subjects. Results: The CPS subjects had significantly more illogical thinking than the PGE and nonepileptic children. The severity of their illogical thinking was related to global cognitive dysfunction and a schizophrenia-like psychosis. Age of onset and seizure control, however, were significantly associated with the severity of illogical thinking in the PGE group. One or more psychiatric diagnoses were found in 63% of the CPS and 54% of the PGE patients, particularly if they had global cognitive deficits. Conclusion: Illogical thinking, associated with cognitive dysfunction or schizophrenia-like symptoms, might be a feature of pediatric CPS. Psychopathology might be related to global cognitive dysfunction in pediatric CPS and PGE.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1286-1294
    Number of pages9
    JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
    Volume36
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1 Jan 1997

    Keywords

    • Child
    • Complex partial seizures
    • Formal thought disorder
    • Primary generalized epilepsy
    • Psychopathology

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Developmental and Educational Psychology
    • Psychiatry and Mental health

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