Gholamreza Zamani1, Shadi Shiva2, Mahmoud Mohammadi3, Javad Mahmoudi Gharaie4, Nima Rezaei5. 1. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: ghrzamani@yahoo.com. 2. Pediatric Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 3. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of Pediatric Psychiatry, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Molecular Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psychosocial problems seem to be common in epilepsy, and they could negatively affect the social affairs and networking of adolescents with epilepsy. They could cause decreased self-esteem and social performance, leading to isolation and civil discrimination. This study was performed to assess the quality of life (QOL) of a group of adolescents with epilepsy in Iran. METHODS: An analytic cross-sectional study was performed in 197 young Iranian adolescents with epilepsy. To measure the QOL of these cases, the Persian version of the QOL in Epilepsy Inventory for Adolescents 48 (QOLIE-AD-48) scale was used. RESULTS: The mean total score of the scale was 61.5±10.4. The highest mean was in the school behavior domain (83.85±12.27), while the lowest mean was in the domain of attitudes toward epilepsy (22.45±15.78). There was a significant correlation between QOL and age, number of drugs taken, and frequency of seizures per year. Sixty-six percent of the adolescents with epilepsy had never talked to their friends or teachers about their disease. CONCLUSION: This study revealed an unsatisfactory state of the QOL of adolescents with epilepsy in our population in comparison with other studies. This indicates the need for greater concern about the psychological status and risk factors for the QOL of adolescents with epilepsy in Iran.
BACKGROUND: Psychosocial problems seem to be common in epilepsy, and they could negatively affect the social affairs and networking of adolescents with epilepsy. They could cause decreased self-esteem and social performance, leading to isolation and civil discrimination. This study was performed to assess the quality of life (QOL) of a group of adolescents with epilepsy in Iran. METHODS: An analytic cross-sectional study was performed in 197 young Iranian adolescents with epilepsy. To measure the QOL of these cases, the Persian version of the QOL in Epilepsy Inventory for Adolescents 48 (QOLIE-AD-48) scale was used. RESULTS: The mean total score of the scale was 61.5±10.4. The highest mean was in the school behavior domain (83.85±12.27), while the lowest mean was in the domain of attitudes toward epilepsy (22.45±15.78). There was a significant correlation between QOL and age, number of drugs taken, and frequency of seizures per year. Sixty-six percent of the adolescents with epilepsy had never talked to their friends or teachers about their disease. CONCLUSION: This study revealed an unsatisfactory state of the QOL of adolescents with epilepsy in our population in comparison with other studies. This indicates the need for greater concern about the psychological status and risk factors for the QOL of adolescents with epilepsy in Iran.