Article

AIM : To describe behavioural and emotional symptoms among Icelandic preschool
children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: Children with congenital CP, assessed
with the Child Behavior Checklist/1(1/2)-5 (CBCL/1(1/2)-5) and Caregiver-Teacher
Report Form (C-TRF), were enrolled in the study.
A comparison group was recruited
from the general population. Thirty-six children (53% males) with CP were
assessed at a mean age of 4 years 11 months (SD 5 mo, range 4-6 y); 26 (72%) had
bilateral distribution of symptoms and 32 (89%) had spastic CP. Thirty (83%) were
at Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I or II and six at levels
III or IV. For comparison, 110 (43% males) and 120 (48% males) children were
assessed with the CBCL/1(1/2)-5 and the C-TRF respectively, at a mean age of 4
years 6 months (SD 6 mo, range 4-6 y). RESULTS: Sixteen children (48%) with CP
had high scores on total problems scale of the CBCL/1(1/2)-5 and 20 (65%) on the
C-TRF compared with 18% of the comparison group, both on the CBCL/1(1/2)-5 and
the C-TRF (p<0.001). Children with CP had higher scores on all subscales of the
CBCL/1(1/2)-5 and the C-TRF, except somatic complaints. Attention difficulties,
withdrawn, aggressive behaviour, and anxious/depressed symptoms were most
pronounced among children with CP. INTERPRETATION:
A large proportion of
preschool children with CP have substantial behavioural and emotional
difficulties, which need to be addressed in their treatment.
CI - (c) The Authors. Journal compilation (c) Mac Keith Press 2010.

Langue : ANGLAIS