Compliance with anticonvulsant therapy by epileptic youth. Relationships to psychosocial aspects of adolescent development.
Independence in daily life, family harmony as perceived by youths and their parents, and self-esteem were investigated in relation to anticonvulsant medication compliance in 25 epileptics aged 9-17 years. Medication compliance was assessed by monthly home saliva sampling for phenobarbital concentrations. Psychosocial issues were assessed by standardized instruments. Each psychosocial issue was highly correlated with compliance. Partial correlation analysis reveals that these findings are not explained by the subject's demographic or clinical characteristics. Medication noncompliance appears to be associated with a restriction of independence in daily life, lack of harmony in family relations, and low self-esteem in teenage epileptics. Clinicians should observe for these conditions and initiate patient and family counseling in order to maximize medication compliance and seizure control.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010553:Personality Development; D010556:Personality Tests; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment
D010634:Phenobarbital