Patients with diagnosed childhood-onset epilepsy have a 1.6-fold increased risk of self-harming behaviours and suicidal ideation compared with peers, a study suggests. 

In one of the few population-based cohort studies to consider the issue, US neurologists compared data from the medical records of 339 children diagnosed with epilepsy with 678 matched controls.  

Following most of the cohort into young adulthood, they identified 98 cases of self-injurious behaviour or suicidal ideation — 43 cases in the epilepsy group and 55 among controls. 

Both self-injury groups had similarly high rates of mood and substance abuse disorders, but those with epilepsy were more than twice as likely to have ADHD, the doctors noted.