Social skills in children with epilepsy: How do they compare to healthy and chronic disease controls?

Studies have shown poor long-term social outcomes in adults with childhood-onset epilepsy. Our goal was to compare social skills in children with epilepsy with those of healthy and chronic disease controls. Children (8–16 years) with epilepsy (n = 59) were compared with age- and gender-matched children with chronic kidney disease (n = 40) and healthy controls (n = 41). Parents completed the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS) questionnaire. Children with epilepsy had significantly poorer SSRS total scores when compared with healthy controls (P = 0.002); however, their scores did not differ from those of children with chronic kidney disease (P = 0.52). Children with epilepsy were less cooperative (P = 0.02), less assertive (P = 0.004), and less responsible (P = 0.05) and displayed poorer self-control (P = 0.005) than healthy controls. Our results suggest that having a chronic disease plays a role in the social functioning of children with epilepsy. The impact of epilepsy itself on social functioning should be further elucidated through detailed prospective assessments over time.

Research highlights
► Social skills of children with epilepsy were compared with those of healthy and chronic disease controls.
► Children with epilepsy have poorer social skills than healthy children.
► Children with epilepsy have social skills similar to those of children with chronic renal disease.
► Difficulties with social skills may play a role in poor long-term social outcomes in individuals with epilepsy.