Measures of psychopathology in children with complex partial seizures and primary generalized epilepsy with absence

Objective: This investigation examined psychopathology in 48 children with complex partial seizures (CPS), 39 children with primary generalized epilep sy with absence (PGE), and 59 nonepileptic children, aged 5 to 16 years, by comparing the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Schedule for Affecti ve Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS). Method: Th e CBCL was completed by parents and the K-SADS was administered to both par ent and child. Results: The CBCL identified psychopathology in 26% and the K-SADS in 51% of the CPS and PGE patients (kappa = 0.32). The CPS and PGE g roups had significantly higher mean CBCL scores, as well as higher rates of psychiatric diagnoses and symptoms of psychopathology, compared with the n onepileptic group. However, the CPS and PGE groups did not differ in these measures. Within each patient group, Full Scale IQ, but not seizure control , was associated with these measures of psychopathology. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the K-SADS identifies more children with psychopathol ogy than the CBCL in children with CPS and PGE.