Characteristics of epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder comorbidity in children: A retrospective analysis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is often accompanied by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There are different opinions about reasons. The effect of epilepsy features was not studied in ADHD before or after epilepsy. We aimed to obtain clues about this comorbidity in children. METHODS: Data of forty-four (33 males, 11 girls) consecutive epilepsy patients with ADHD were retrospectively reviewed. The binary subgroups were statistically compared. RESULTS: ADHD was diagnosed before epilepsy in 11 (25%) and after epilepsy in 33 (75%) patients. The mean age was 11.5±2.7, the first and last seizure ages were 5.2±3 and 9.5±2.8, antiepileptic drug (AED) starting and ADHD ages were 6.6±3.4 and 8.4±2 years respectively. In patients with ADHD after epilepsy, AED and first seizure ages were younger (p=0.004 and p=0.002, respectively). Gender, epilepsy type, ADHD age, electroencephalography and brain magnetic resonance imaging findings were similar. There was a shorter interval time between ADHD and epilepsy in patients with a first seizure age >5 and AED age >6.5 years (p=0.013 and p=0.000). EEG abnormalities were more frequent in patients with >1.5 years time interval between epilepsy and ADHD (p=0.044). The ages of last seizure and AED starting ages were positively correlated with ADHD age (r=0.389, r=0.434, p<0.05). DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION: We found similar ADHD ages in patients with ADHD before or after epilepsy. However, AEDs need was observed in two separate periods, early childhood and school age. The similarity of other features suggests that common pathogenetic mechanisms may play a role in this comorbidity.