Christina Eguizabal Love1, Frank Webbe1, Gunha Kim2, Ki Hyeong Lee2, Michael Westerveld2, Christine M Salinas3. 1. Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Psychology, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901, USA. 2. Florida Hospital for Children, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 615 E. Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803, USA. 3. Florida Hospital for Children, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 615 E. Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803, USA; Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Neurology, Division of Epilepsy, 300 Longwood Ave., Fegan 9, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: drchristinesalinas@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Children with epilepsy are vulnerable to executive dysfunction, but the relationship between executive functioning (EF) and quality of life (QOL) in children with epilepsy is not fully delineated. This exploratory study elucidated the relationship between ecological EF and QOL in pediatric intractable epilepsy. METHOD: Fifty-four consecutively referred pediatric epilepsy surgery candidates and their parents were administered IQ measures, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), and the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QOLCE) as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. RESULTS: A significant difference was found in QOL between those with and without clinical impairments on the BRIEF [t(52)=3.93; p<.001]. That is, children with executive dysfunction had lower overall QOL. All seizure variables and BRIEF scales were associated with overall QOL [F(12, 40)=6.508; p=.001; R2=.661]. Working memory from the BRIEF was the most frequently elevated scale in our sample (57%). Those with executive dysfunction had 9.7 times the risk of having poor QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Poor EF control according to behavior ratings is significantly related to QOL in intractable pediatric epilepsy. Identification of executive dysfunction in home environments is an essential component of presurgical evaluations and target for intervention, which may improve QOL.
OBJECTIVE:Children with epilepsy are vulnerable to executive dysfunction, but the relationship between executive functioning (EF) and quality of life (QOL) in children with epilepsy is not fully delineated. This exploratory study elucidated the relationship between ecological EF and QOL in pediatric intractable epilepsy. METHOD: Fifty-four consecutively referred pediatric epilepsy surgery candidates and their parents were administered IQ measures, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), and the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QOLCE) as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. RESULTS: A significant difference was found in QOL between those with and without clinical impairments on the BRIEF [t(52)=3.93; p<.001]. That is, children with executive dysfunction had lower overall QOL. All seizure variables and BRIEF scales were associated with overall QOL [F(12, 40)=6.508; p=.001; R2=.661]. Working memory from the BRIEF was the most frequently elevated scale in our sample (57%). Those with executive dysfunction had 9.7 times the risk of having poor QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Poor EF control according to behavior ratings is significantly related to QOL in intractable pediatric epilepsy. Identification of executive dysfunction in home environments is an essential component of presurgical evaluations and target for intervention, which may improve QOL.
Authors: Tobin Ehrlich; Anny Reyes; Brianna M Paul; Vedang Uttarwar; Stephen Hartman; Kushagra Mathur; Yu-Hsuan A Chang; Manu Hegde; Jerry J Shih; Carrie R McDonald Journal: Epilepsy Res Date: 2018-11-13 Impact factor: 3.045