Michela Gatta1, Laura Balottin2, Ambra Salmaso1, Manuela Stucchi1, Debora DE Carlo1, Elisa Guarneri1, Stefania Mannarini3, Marilena Vecchi4, Clementina Boniver4, Pier A Battistella1. 1. Childhood, Adolescence and Family Unit, ULSS 16 and Department of Woman's and Child's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. 2. Interdepartmental Center for Family Research, Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education, and Applied Psychology, Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy - laura.balottin@libero.it. 3. Interdepartmental Center for Family Research, Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education, and Applied Psychology, Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. 4. Pediatric Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Woman's and Child's Health, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the distribution, timing, and risk factors for psychopathology and to further examine the quality of life (QoL) in an Italian sample of children with recent onset epilepsy. Sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, family factors, as well as illness-related factors themselves were examined in order to clarify the relationship among these variables, psychopathology and QoL. METHODS: For this purpose, 49 children and adolescents (4-18 years), consecutively referred to a Neurophysiology Service, were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team using dimensional as well as categorical instruments both self-administered (self-report and proxy-report) and interviewer administered. RESULTS: Forty-five percent of the patients exhibited one or more Axis I disorders (DSM-IV) when evaluated with K-SADS-PL interview. It's worth noting that preadolescent and adolescent patients tend to underestimate their problems compared to their parents'opinion, when answering self-administer questionnaires. Self-reported QoL appeared to be generally satisfactory. Social and family factor, as well as epilepsy related factors appeared to be linked both to the presence of psychopathology and to the QoL. Patients affected by psychiatric disorders exhibited the poorest QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Also after many years from the onset, childhood epilepsy frequently fosters negative consequences in terms of social life, work, psychopathology and life expectancy. The ability of health services and public health measures to prevent and treat psychiatric comorbidity may have a pivotal role in enhancing patients' QoL.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the distribution, timing, and risk factors for psychopathology and to further examine the quality of life (QoL) in an Italian sample of children with recent onset epilepsy. Sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, family factors, as well as illness-related factors themselves were examined in order to clarify the relationship among these variables, psychopathology and QoL. METHODS: For this purpose, 49 children and adolescents (4-18 years), consecutively referred to a Neurophysiology Service, were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team using dimensional as well as categorical instruments both self-administered (self-report and proxy-report) and interviewer administered. RESULTS: Forty-five percent of the patients exhibited one or more Axis I disorders (DSM-IV) when evaluated with K-SADS-PL interview. It's worth noting that preadolescent and adolescent patients tend to underestimate their problems compared to their parents'opinion, when answering self-administer questionnaires. Self-reported QoL appeared to be generally satisfactory. Social and family factor, as well as epilepsy related factors appeared to be linked both to the presence of psychopathology and to the QoL. Patients affected by psychiatric disorders exhibited the poorest QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Also after many years from the onset, childhood epilepsy frequently fosters negative consequences in terms of social life, work, psychopathology and life expectancy. The ability of health services and public health measures to prevent and treat psychiatric comorbidity may have a pivotal role in enhancing patients' QoL.