Frequency of ADHD among 3-17 year old epileptic children at Kashan in 2005

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and accounts for 5 to 10% of patients who refer to pediatric psychologists. With respect to more frequency of ADHD in epileptic patients than in general population and because some of the antiepileptic drugs can cause or aggravate this disorder we conducted this study to evaluate the frequency of ADHD in the epileptic children. This descriptive cross sectional study was done on 50 epileptic children referring to neurology clinic of Kashan in 2005. Data gathered through two questionnaires containing DSM IV diagnostic criteria of ADHD, and personal history, and were analyzed by Chi square and Fisher exact tests. Among 50 epileptic children 21 (42%) had ADHD (45.8% Female and 38.4%: Male). ADHD occurred in 3-7 years old children (69.2%) and the older ones (32.4%) (P = 0.025). ADHD frequency in the first child of the family was 50% and in the others was 26.9% (P = 0.024). Fifty-two percent of ADHD children and 27.5% of normal children had history of febrile seizure. In 57.1% of patients, ADHD began after epilepsy occurrence and in 42.8% existed before it. In 41.6% of children ADHD started after using antiepileptic drugs while in 33% of them ADHD was exacerbated. Phenobarbital had the main role in inducing or increasing ADHD symptoms. Because ADHD was more common in epileptic children than in normal population, it is recommended to perform psychiatric consultation for them. Also close attention should be paid in selecting antiepileptic drugs.