Defining the problem: psychiatric and behavioral comorbidity in children and adolescents with epilepsy

Abstract

A variety of comorbid psychiatric conditions are frequently identified in children and adolescents with epilepsy, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Data regarding the epidemiology and precise prevalence of comorbid disorders in childhood epilepsy are incomplete and just now beginning to be compiled. Psychiatric and behavioral comorbidities are believed to affect approximately 40-50% of children and adolescents with epilepsy. Optimal diagnosis, clinical evaluation, and choice of treatment are predicated on the proper identification of coexisting psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Comorbid conditions in children and adolescents with epilepsy should be evaluated and treated as soon as they are recognized.