Study of the Prevalence of Epilepsy Among Schoolchildren in Valladolid, Spain

A population study was performed to estimate the prevalence of epilepsy in the juvenile population of Valladolid, Spain. Using a mixed questionnaire (postal-domiciliary), we studied a sample of 5,100 primary school pupils (aged between 6 and 14 years) and 48 pupils receiving state-run special education. We also identified all the students receiving private special education and from specific special education centers belonging to the same age group (90 and 145, respectively). The prevalence of epilepsy in the school age population on December 1, 1987 was estimated at 5.72/1,000 inhabitants. Our results are comparable to those of other studies in Western countries.     

A Preliminary Study on Screening Prevalence of Pervasive Developmental Disorder in Schoolchildren in Iran

To study prevalence rates of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) symptoms and differences between subtypes in school age Iranian children. A random sample of 2,000 school age children from both genders was selected. A parent-completed, DSM-IV-referenced rating scale of PDD symptoms was used. About 1.9% of the sample obtained screening cutoff scores for probable autistic disorder and 0.5 for probable asperger’s disorder. The rate of probable PDD was not more in girls than the boys. The rate of suspected cases of PDD in Iran is very high and probable autistic disorder is not gender related. It shows the need for more consideration of PDD in the mental health programs planning.     

Prevalence and Characteristics of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women with Severe Mental Illness: A Prevalence Study in Spain

This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of intimate partner violence (IPV) towards women with a severe mental illness (SMI). The sample consisted of 142 adult women with SMI treated in public mental health services in three districts of Madrid (Spain). The prevalence of IPV in the 12 months preceding the interview was 30.3 % and over the lifespan was 79.6 %. 32.7 % of women victims of violence do not qualify themselves as battered women. 48.5 % of battered women do not talk about their abusive situation with anyone or come to any resource or service. Women victims of abuse have low social support. Women who have suffered physical abuse in childhood are at 2.22 times higher risk of being victims of IPV in the past year. Mental health professionals identified 50 % of recent abuse cases. This research highlights the extent of IPV experienced by women with SMI.     

Epilepsy in Pakistan: A Population-Based Epidemiologic Study

Summary: A house-to-house, cross-sectional, population study of epilepsy on 24,130 individuals of all ages from southern Pakistan indicates an age-specific prevalence rate of 9·99 in 1,000 (14·8 in 1,000 in rural and 7·4 in 1,000 in urban areas) for recurrent, non febrile "active" epilepsy in Pakistan. Mean onset of epilepsy was 13·3 years, and 74·3% epileptic persons were aged <19 years at onset of the disorder. The most common seizure type was ton-icclonic in 77% [primary generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) in 59% and secondarily generalized in 18%], simple partial (SPS) in 5%, complex partial (CPS) in 6%, generalized absence in l%, tonic in 3%, and myoclonic in 3% cases. Multiple seizure types in the same person were evident in 9·6% of only the generalized group. A putative cause could be suggested in 38·4% of cases: 32% had a positive family history of epilepsy, most common among siblings. Common perceived precipitants included fever in 29·2% and emotional disturbances in 16·6%. Only 3% of epileptic persons believed that their illness was due to supernatural causes. Treatment status was very poor, with only 2% rural and 27% urban epileptic persons receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) at the time of the survey. We discuss the logistic and management problems of population-based epidemiologic studies in developing countries.     

An Epidemiological Study of Tics

Abstract: We devised a questionnaire for estimation of each tic, and used a two-step investigation procedure, first by a parent questionnaire with 1,218 responses and second by a confirmatory telephone interview for 197 positive responses. The average estimated values were 11.3% for boys and 5.2% for girls. The prevalences were–blinking: 4.2%, head-jerking: 1.6%, shrugging: 1.2%, mouth-twitching: 0.6%, face-distortion: 0.5%, mouth-opening: 0%, throat-clearing: 2.7%, sniffing: 0.6%, and vocalization: 0.2%. According to the criteria in DSM-III-R, 5.1% of 1,218 had TTD, 2.2% had CMVTD, and 0.5% had Tourette disorder.     

Incidence of Epilepsy in Rural Iceland: A Population-Based Study

Summary: Purpose : We wished to determine the incidence of epilepsy in the population of rural Iceland.
Methods : Cases were identified through review of records of primary care facilities for the study population, supplemented by review of referrals to EEG facilities and neurologic specialists.
Results : The incidence of epilepsy (recurrent unprovoked seizures) was 47 in 100,000. Age-specific incidence was bimodal, highest in the youngest and oldest age groups. About one third of the patients had an identifiable etiology, and one third had partial seizures. Integration of imaging and neurophysiologic data did little to modify the distribution of etiology or seizure type.
Conclusions : The present study confirms findings of other recent studies of incidence in Western Countries.     

Tics and tourette's: A continuum of symptoms?

Analysis of the families of 39 unselected children with Tourette syndrome revealed other members with tic disorders in twenty kindreds. In eight families there were 13 individuals with chronic multiple tics, usually motor, not vocal. Twelve different families contained 18 subjects with Tourette syndrome other than the index patient. In three of these families there were 6 additional individuals with chronic motor tics, forming a bridge to the first group. An autosomal dominant mode of inheritance was suggested in all cases. Tourette syndrome and chronic motor tics appear to represent conditions along a continuum and have, in many instances, a hereditary basis.     

Pregnancies of Women with Epilepsy: A Population-Based Study in Iceland

Summary: Purpose : Women with epilepsy who become pregnant are commonly considered to be at high risk for complications during pregnancy or delivery. The offspring are also considered o have increased risk of perinatal mortality, congenital malformations, and maturational delay. Because few of these studies are population based, potential bias exists because of selection.
Methods: We performed a historical population-based cohort study in Iceland to determine the prevalence of epilepsy among pregnant women, to identify pregnancy and delivery complications in women with epilepsy, and to determine the outcome of their pregnancies as compared with that in the general population of Iceland. We identified all women with active epilepsy who gave birth during a 19-year period in Iceland.
Results: In this population, 3.3 in 1,000 pregnancies involve mothers with active epilepsy. The frequency of adverse events (AE) during pregnancy in the women with epilepsy is similar to that observed among all live births in the population, but cesarean section was performed twice as frequently as in the general population. Perinatal mortality rate and mean birth weight are not significantly different in the offspring of women with epilepsy as compared with rest of the population. The risk of major congenital malformations (MGM) is increased 2.7- fold over that expected when a mother is treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during a pregnancy.
Conclusions: Our study indicates that the rate of complications of pregnancy in mothers with active epilepsy is low and similar to that of the general population with epilepsy. Use of AEDs by the mother during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of MGM in the offspring.     

Neuropsychiatric Assessmenit of Children with Autism: A Population-Based Study

Thirty-five children with autistic disorder and 17 with autistic-like conditions underwent an exhaustive neurobiological evaluation, and the findings were contrasted with those obtained from various comparison groups. Almost 90 per cent of the children with autistic disorder and autistic-like conditions had major indications of brain damage or dysfunction. Some of those who did not show such abnormalities had a first-degree relative with Asperger syndrome. The rate of abnormality was similar to that of severely mentally retarded children, but in excess of that of normal children. Within the autism group, abnormality rate did not correlate with degree of mental retardation. It is concluded that autism has multiple biological aetiologies and that autistic symptoms in a child should always prompt a thorough medical/neurobiological evaluation.     

Incidence of Psychogenic Seizures in Adults: A Population-Based Study in Iceland

Summary: Purpose: We wished to determine the incidence of psychogenic nonepileptic (NES) seizures in a population-based study.
Methods: Cases were identified through review of the results of all long-term video-EEG studies made in Iceland during the study period.
Results: The incidence of NES was 1.4 in 100,000 person-years of observation. Age-specific incidence was highest in the youngest age group (age 15–24 years) and decreased thereafter. A strong female preponderance was observed.
Conclusions: The incidence of NES is equal to almost 4% of that reported for epilepsy from Iceland for persons aged ≥15 years. For people aged 15–24 years, the incidence of NES is equal to −5% of the incidence of epilepsy. Half the patients also had epilepsy.     

The Risk of Online Gambling: a Study of Gambling Disorder Prevalence Rates in Spain

Since the 1990s, gambling has been considered a public health concern. The characteristics of games and the environments in which gambling is carried out are major causes of gambling disorder. Information and communication technologies (e.g., Internet, mobile phones) have been adapted for gambling, and new forms of online gambling have appeared.

Online gambling is currently legal in many countries worldwide, and it is continuing to expand globally. In Spain, online gambling has been legal since 2012, when the government authorized companies to operate in this space. Many other countries have been through a similar process of legalization and the promotion of online gambling.

In this study, we analyzed the prevalence of gambling disorder in Spain, as well as differences between online and traditional gambling, according to sex and age group. Prevalence indicators of gambling disorder were higher than expected, and this result was especially evident with regard to online gambling.

     

Long-Term Survival of People with Unprovoked Seizures: A Population-Based Study

Summary: Purpose : Few population-based studies of longterm survival in people with seizures or epilepsy have been made.
Methods: Between January 1, 1960 and December 31, 1964, we identified 224 incidence cases of unprovoked seizures in Iceland and determined survivorship status and date of death for the cases as of January 1, 1996. We compared survivorship with that expected based on data from age-/sex-specific life tables from the country for 1961–1990 and calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR).
Results: By 30 years after diagnosis, there were 45 deaths among patients with unprovoked seizures as compared with an expected 28 deaths [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–2.21. Patients with unprovoked seizures of unknown etiology did not have a significant increase in mortality overall (SMR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8–1.9) or in any time interval. For patients with remote symptomatic un provoked seizures, mortality was increased (SMR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4–3.5). This increase was attributable to excess mortality for the first 15 years after diagnosis (SMR 4.1, 95% CI 2.4–6.6), and SMR was not different after that time.
Conclusions: Survivorship was decreased for the population of patients with unprovoked seizures. The increased mortality was primarily due to excess mortality in patients with remote symptomatic seizures, occurring in the first 15 years after diagnosis. Overall mortality for idiopathic unprovoked seizures was not significantly increased.     

Prevalence,Employment Rate,and Cost of Schizophrenia in a High-Income Welfare Society: A Population-Based Study Using Comprehensive Health and Welfare Registers

Schizophrenia is associated with recurrent hospitalizations, need for long-term community support, poor social functioning, and low employment rates. Despite the wide- ranging financial and social burdens associated with the illness, there is great uncertainty regarding prevalence, employment rates, and the societal costs of schizophrenia. The current study investigates 12-month prevalence of patients treated for schizophrenia, employment rates, and cost of schizophrenia using a population-based top-down approach. Data were obtained from comprehensive and mandatory health and welfare registers in Norway. We identified a 12-month prevalence of 0.17% for the entire population. The employment rate among working-age individuals was 10.24%. The societal costs for the 12-month period were USD 890 million. The average cost per individual with schizophrenia was USD 106 thousand. Inpatient care and lost productivity due to high unemployment represented 33% and 29%, respectively, of the total costs. The use of mandatory health and welfare registers enabled a unique and informative analysis on true population-based datasets.Key words: schizophrenia, prevalence, employment, cost-of-illness