Behavioral Problems and Psychiatric Comorbidities in Children with SCN1A-Related Dravet Syndrome
Chanika Liangcheep¹, Jariya Tarugsa¹, Mongkol Chanvanichtrakool², Sudarat Sirisakpanit¹, Sorawit Viravan²
Affiliation : ¹ Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; ² Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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.
Received 10 March 2025 | Revised 6 August 2025 | Accepted 8 August 2025
DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2025.9.713-720-02117
Keywords : Dravet syndrome; SCN1A; Epilepsy syndrome; Psychiatric comorbidities; Behavioral problems
