A new study finds that children with epilepsy are more likely to experience sleep problems, which may result in a poorer quality of life, reports Epilepsy Research UK.
The authors, based at the Mersin University School of Medicine, in Turkey, suggest that the sleeping habits of children with epilepsy should be assessed during clinic visits, because efficient sleep is associated with an overall better quality of life and improved psychosocial functioning.
They also advise that screening children with epilepsy for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be considered, since sleep problems can be associated this condition.
Study design
A total of 53 children with epilepsy and 28 controls with minor medical problems, aged 7 to 18 years, were included in the study. The children’s parents were asked to complete both the ‘Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire‘(CSHQ) and a children’s quality of life questionnaire. The children’s mothers were also asked to complete depression and anxiety inventories for themselves.
The researchers used the responses to compare sleep problems between children and adolescents with and without epilepsy. They also examined whether or not there were associations between sleep problems and a) quality of life, b) the presence of ADHD and c) the mothers’ mental health.
