Abstracts

Rationale: We have previously presented data from a population-based study showing increased psychiatric problems and risk taking behavior in youth (age 13-19) with epilepsy or diabetes.There was higher tendency to psychiatric disorders in youth with diabetes or epilepsy as compared to controls and youth with astma. The purpose of this investigation was to explore if this trend is also observed in children (age 7– 13).Methods: The study was cross-sectional and based on questionnaires from children. 16,480 forms were filled out by children (87% response rate) and 15,698 by parents (78% response rate). To screen for psychiatric symptoms we used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). SDQ can be answered by the students themselves (self-report for 9760 in the 5 to 7th grades) or parents (all). Results: The percentage of pupils scoring borderline or abnormal in SDQ was higher in all age groups in those reporting having or having had epilepsy, diabetes or asthma compared to those with allergy or without any chronic disease (controls). This was seen both with parent- and self-reported SDQ. In the 5th grade(10-11years), 30% of children with epilepsy, 25% with diabetes and 12% with asthma scored borderline or abnormal in parent-reported SDQ as compared to 4% in the controls or 7% with allergy. In self-reported SDQ for the 5th grade, 32% of children with epilepsy, 25% with diabetes and 19% with asthma scored borderline or abnormal in parent-reported SDQ as compared to 16% in the controls or 16% with allergy.Conclusions: Children with epilepsy, diabetes or asthma had a higher percentage of borderline and abnormal scores in SDQ, indicating a higher tendency to psychiatric disorders as compared to children with allergy and controls. The finding suggests that children with severe chronic diseases may have common factors facilitating the development of psychiatric problems, and that these factors develop at a young age.