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Some psychological correlates of generalized and focal epilepsy in children

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology volume 1, pages 267–279 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

School-aged children with two types of epilepsy, generalized and focal, were compared with normal children of the same age, sex, and IQ on measures of cognitive style, attention, motor control, and behavioral pathology. Epileptic children were found to employ less efficient cognitive strategies and to have longer reaction times and poorer control of fine motor movements than have normal children. Children with generalized epilepsy were more impaired than were normal children when sustained motor performance was required. Mothers of children with generalized epilepsy reported more behavior problems than did control mothers on an objective checklist. These results suggest special educational methods for the treatment and education of epileptic children.

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Affiliations

  1. The McGill University, USA

    Claire B. Lowry &  Susan B. Campbell

  2. Department of Psychology, Montreal Children's Hospital, 2300 Tupper Street, Montreal 108, Quebec

    Claire B. Lowry &  Susan B. Campbell

Authors
  1. Claire B. Lowry
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  2. Susan B. Campbell
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Additional information

The research reported in this paper was supported by Grant No. MA-45O5 from the Medical Research Council of Canada. Grateful thanks are extended to Dr. Katherine Metrakos, Director of the Convulsive Disorder Clinic, Montreal Children's Hospital, who screened epileptic subjects and gave us her enthusiastic support. The Diagnostic Test Center was most helpful in providing blood serum levels on the clinical sample. We wish to thank the Notre Dame de Grace and Westmount branches of the Y.M.C.A. for access to control subjects.

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Lowry, C.B., Campbell, S.B. Some psychological correlates of generalized and focal epilepsy in children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 1, 267–279 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917737

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917737

Keywords

  • Behavior Problem
  • Motor Performance
  • Normal Child
  • Cognitive Style
  • Fine Motor