Febrile seizures and childhood epilepsy and risk of internalizing and psychotic symptoms

Sofie J Nielsen; Bodil H Bech; Katrine Strandberg-Larsen; Eva Bølling-Ladegaard; Chris Cotsapas; Jakob Christensen; Julie W Dreier

doi:10.1111/epi.18095

Febrile seizures and childhood epilepsy and risk of internalizing and psychotic symptoms

Sofie J Nielsen, Bodil H Bech, Katrine Strandberg-Larsen, Eva Bølling-Ladegaard, Chris Cotsapas, Jakob Christensen, Julie W Dreier^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether children with febrile seizures and/or epilepsy were at increased risk of experiencing internalizing symptoms or psychotic-like experiences at age 11 years.

METHODS: This cohort study includes 44 819 children from the 11-year follow up of the Danish National Birth Cohort. Information on childhood seizures was retrieved from the Danish National Patient Registry, whereas child psychiatric symptoms were assessed in a web-based questionnaire using the Adolescent Psychotic-like Symptom Screener and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between childhood seizures and internalizing symptoms (symptom score ≥8) and psychotic-like experiences (≥2 definite experiences) were obtained using logistic regression models.

RESULTS: A total of 1620 children with febrile seizures (3.6%), and 311 children with epilepsy (0.7%) were identified. When adjusted for potential confounders, no association between febrile seizures and psychiatric symptoms was observed, and no association was observed between epilepsy and psychotic-like experiences. However, the OR for internalizing symptoms was 1.76 (95% CI: 1.20-2.58) in children with epilepsy compared to children without. This higher risk was evident mainly in boys (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.37-3.85), children with ≥2 epilepsy-related hospital admissions (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.81-4.32), and children whose age at first epilepsy-related hospital admission was 0-3 years (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.45-4.19).

SIGNIFICANCE: No association was found between febrile seizures and psychiatric symptoms or epilepsy and psychotic-like experiences at age 11. However, boys with epilepsy were at higher risk of experiencing internalizing symptoms.

Original language	English
Article number	18095
Journal	Epilepsia
Volume	65
Issue	10
Pages (from-to)	2973-2983
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0013-9580
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.18095
Publication status	Published - Oct 2024

Keywords

childhood seizures
epidemiology
neurodevelopmental disorders
statistics
the Danish National Birth Cohort

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title = "Febrile seizures and childhood epilepsy and risk of internalizing and psychotic symptoms",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: To assess whether children with febrile seizures and/or epilepsy were at increased risk of experiencing internalizing symptoms or psychotic-like experiences at age 11 years.METHODS: This cohort study includes 44 819 children from the 11-year follow up of the Danish National Birth Cohort. Information on childhood seizures was retrieved from the Danish National Patient Registry, whereas child psychiatric symptoms were assessed in a web-based questionnaire using the Adolescent Psychotic-like Symptom Screener and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between childhood seizures and internalizing symptoms (symptom score ≥8) and psychotic-like experiences (≥2 definite experiences) were obtained using logistic regression models.RESULTS: A total of 1620 children with febrile seizures (3.6%), and 311 children with epilepsy (0.7%) were identified. When adjusted for potential confounders, no association between febrile seizures and psychiatric symptoms was observed, and no association was observed between epilepsy and psychotic-like experiences. However, the OR for internalizing symptoms was 1.76 (95% CI: 1.20-2.58) in children with epilepsy compared to children without. This higher risk was evident mainly in boys (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.37-3.85), children with ≥2 epilepsy-related hospital admissions (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.81-4.32), and children whose age at first epilepsy-related hospital admission was 0-3 years (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.45-4.19).SIGNIFICANCE: No association was found between febrile seizures and psychiatric symptoms or epilepsy and psychotic-like experiences at age 11. However, boys with epilepsy were at higher risk of experiencing internalizing symptoms.",

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note = "{\textcopyright} 2024 The Author(s). Epilepsia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International League Against Epilepsy.",

year = "2024",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1111/epi.18095",

language = "English",

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Febrile seizures and childhood epilepsy and risk of internalizing and psychotic symptoms. / Nielsen, Sofie J; Bech, Bodil H; Strandberg-Larsen, Katrine et al.
In: Epilepsia, Vol. 65, No. 10, 18095, 10.2024, p. 2973-2983.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Febrile seizures and childhood epilepsy and risk of internalizing and psychotic symptoms

AU - Nielsen, Sofie J

AU - Bech, Bodil H

AU - Strandberg-Larsen, Katrine

AU - Bølling-Ladegaard, Eva

AU - Cotsapas, Chris

AU - Christensen, Jakob

AU - Dreier, Julie W

PY - 2024/10

Y1 - 2024/10

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess whether children with febrile seizures and/or epilepsy were at increased risk of experiencing internalizing symptoms or psychotic-like experiences at age 11 years.METHODS: This cohort study includes 44 819 children from the 11-year follow up of the Danish National Birth Cohort. Information on childhood seizures was retrieved from the Danish National Patient Registry, whereas child psychiatric symptoms were assessed in a web-based questionnaire using the Adolescent Psychotic-like Symptom Screener and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between childhood seizures and internalizing symptoms (symptom score ≥8) and psychotic-like experiences (≥2 definite experiences) were obtained using logistic regression models.RESULTS: A total of 1620 children with febrile seizures (3.6%), and 311 children with epilepsy (0.7%) were identified. When adjusted for potential confounders, no association between febrile seizures and psychiatric symptoms was observed, and no association was observed between epilepsy and psychotic-like experiences. However, the OR for internalizing symptoms was 1.76 (95% CI: 1.20-2.58) in children with epilepsy compared to children without. This higher risk was evident mainly in boys (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.37-3.85), children with ≥2 epilepsy-related hospital admissions (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.81-4.32), and children whose age at first epilepsy-related hospital admission was 0-3 years (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.45-4.19).SIGNIFICANCE: No association was found between febrile seizures and psychiatric symptoms or epilepsy and psychotic-like experiences at age 11. However, boys with epilepsy were at higher risk of experiencing internalizing symptoms.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To assess whether children with febrile seizures and/or epilepsy were at increased risk of experiencing internalizing symptoms or psychotic-like experiences at age 11 years.METHODS: This cohort study includes 44 819 children from the 11-year follow up of the Danish National Birth Cohort. Information on childhood seizures was retrieved from the Danish National Patient Registry, whereas child psychiatric symptoms were assessed in a web-based questionnaire using the Adolescent Psychotic-like Symptom Screener and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between childhood seizures and internalizing symptoms (symptom score ≥8) and psychotic-like experiences (≥2 definite experiences) were obtained using logistic regression models.RESULTS: A total of 1620 children with febrile seizures (3.6%), and 311 children with epilepsy (0.7%) were identified. When adjusted for potential confounders, no association between febrile seizures and psychiatric symptoms was observed, and no association was observed between epilepsy and psychotic-like experiences. However, the OR for internalizing symptoms was 1.76 (95% CI: 1.20-2.58) in children with epilepsy compared to children without. This higher risk was evident mainly in boys (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.37-3.85), children with ≥2 epilepsy-related hospital admissions (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.81-4.32), and children whose age at first epilepsy-related hospital admission was 0-3 years (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.45-4.19).SIGNIFICANCE: No association was found between febrile seizures and psychiatric symptoms or epilepsy and psychotic-like experiences at age 11. However, boys with epilepsy were at higher risk of experiencing internalizing symptoms.

KW - childhood seizures

KW - epidemiology

KW - neurodevelopmental disorders

KW - statistics

KW - the Danish National Birth Cohort

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U2 - 10.1111/epi.18095

DO - 10.1111/epi.18095

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39215712

SN - 0013-9580

VL - 65

SP - 2973

EP - 2983

JO - Epilepsia

JF - Epilepsia

IS - 10

M1 - 18095

ER -

Febrile seizures and childhood epilepsy and risk of internalizing and psychotic symptoms

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Keywords

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