Behavioral Problems and Psychiatric Comorbidities in Children with SCN1A-Related Dravet Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To study psychiatric comorbidities and behavioral problems in children with Dravet syndrome related to SCN1A using standardized tools and parental questionnaires to describe their specific profiles. Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Twenty-one children were invited to participate in the study and 11 completed the study measures, including a psychiatric interview, a cognitive evaluation, and two parental questionnaires, the Thai version of Child Behavioral Checklist or Thai Youth Checklist (TYC) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results: The findings showed pathological development in all patients (100%). The intellectual disability (ID) and global developmental delay (GDD) were found in 10 of 11 (90.9%). Six patients (54.5%) had autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). No statistical significance was found between the type of mutation and ASD or ADHD with odds ratio of 1.5 (95% CI 0.14 to 16.55, p=0.74). Nine of 11 patients (81.8%) had motor coordination disorder. Conclusion: The present study indicated a high prevalence of ID, ASD, ADHD, and motor coordination disorder. Psychiatric assessment and cognitive evaluation are important and critical steps for all patients with Dravet syndrome.