Differential diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with epilepsy

Behavioral problems, such as the inattentive form of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression, are common in children and adolescents with epilepsy and especially associated with central nervous system damage, family dysfunction, and severe seizures. This article discusses the risk factors to be considered when focusing on the prevalence of behavioral problems, the family factors that influence their incidence, as well as the differential diagnosis of behavioral disorders commonly associated with epilepsy. It also considers the assessment of these behavioral disorders and their treatment with psychotherapy, education, and a variety of psychopharmacological agents. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.