Abstracts

Infant temperament has been linked to behavioral and mental health problems in later childhood. Chronically ill children show more behavior problems, especially internalizing problems such as depression and social withdrawal and tend to have a more persistent, less adaptable, and more difficult temperament, when compared to healthy children. New-onset seizure patients may represent an at-risk group. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between infant temperament and behavior problems in a patient population with new-onset seizures. As part of a larger study, we evaluated 290 patients (139 male and 151 female) with new-onset seizures who were between 6- and 14-years-old (mean, 9.56 years). Parents completed the Infant Characteristics Questionnaire (ICQ) to assess child temperament at 6-12 months of age. Parents also completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at baseline and 9 months. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations of the three ICQ subscales (i.e. difficultness, inadaptability, and resistance to control) and the CBCL total behavior problems, internalizing problems and externalizing problems at baseline and also to assess the association between the ICQ subscales and the change in behavior from baseline to 9 months. All multiple regressions were adjusted for race (white vs. other), gender, age at first recognized seizure and caregiver education. In the multiple regression model, the difficultness construct was positively associated with total behavior problems ([italic]p [/italic][lt] .04), and internalizing problems ([italic]p[/italic] [lt] .05). Resistance to control as an infant was positively associated with all three behavior scores: total behavior problems ([italic]p[/italic] [lt] .0001), internalizing ([italic]p [/italic][lt] .004) and externalizing problems ([italic]p [/italic][lt] .0001). In addition, greater inadaptability in infancy was positively associated with greater internalizing problems in childhood ([italic]p [/italic][lt] .04[italic])[/italic]. There were no significant associations found between the ICQ and change in behavior. Infant temperament can be used to identify children with new-onset seizures who are at increased risk for future behavioral problems. Identification of these children will allow for the development of effective coping strategies to encourage positive adaptation. It is possible that the stress of dealing with seizure onset makes the relationship between temperament and behavior more salient. These findings could prove beneficial in developing early interventions to minimize the stress associated with a disorder. Such actions could mediate and reduce the likelihood of the patient[apos]s negative behavioral adjustment (Supported by National Institutes of Health - NS22416 (PI J Austin).)