The validity of the Child Behavior Checklist for children with epilepsy

The validity of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for patients with epilepsy has been questioned, because several items may reflect seizure semiology rather than habitual behavior. This study compared a standard version of the CBCL with an adjusted version that excluded those ambiguous items. Participants were 58 pediatric patients with epilepsy who were assessed preoperatively and 1 year after successful surgical treatment. Before surgery, the adjusted version indicated significantly lower values for the scales Attention Problems, Thought Problems, and Total Problems than the standard version. After surgery, the difference between the standard and adjusted versions and the scores for the ambiguous items were unchanged, although all patients were completely seizure free at that time. Elevated scores on the ambiguous items thus probably reflect real behavioral problems and are not due to confusion with seizure semiology. The results support the CBCL as a valid assessment tool in children with epilepsy.