Sleep Disorders and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents Presenting Genetic Epilepsies with Typical Absence Seizures: An Observational Study

This study investigated sleep disorders (SD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children with absence epilepsy (AE). Parents completed questionnaires on sleep disturbance, Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AED) side effects, and ADHD symptoms. Seventy children with absence seizures included in this study have been compared to a healthy sample matched on sex, age and body mass index. In the AE group, 59% were controlled by AED, 25% had ADHD clinical diagnosis, 15% had AED adverse effects. Considering the whole epileptic group, 17% had pathological scores on ADHD Rating scale and 21% reported excessive daytime sleepiness. Inattention, excessive somnolence and sleep breathing disturbance have been more frequently found in children with AE than in healthy controls. The children with AED adverse effects had higher ADHD scorers and more complaints of excessive daytime sleepiness. This study incites to control for SD and ADHD before and after AED treatment in AE children.