Health-related quality of life in youth: a comparison between adolescents and young adults with uncomplicated epilepsy and healthy controls.
OBJECTIVE
To describe health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents and young adults with uncomplicated epilepsy and to compare it with a random sample of the general population.


METHODS
Young people, aged 13-22 years, meeting the criteria and registered in four Swedish hospitals answered questionnaires (n = 158/193) on HRQOL together with 282 (n = 282/390) random controls living in the same areas in Sweden. The instruments used were "I think I am," "Youth Self Report," "Sense of coherence," and "Family APGAR." Data were analyzed by using factorial analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Girls had a poorer HRQOL than boys. The epilepsy group reported lower competence (i.e., they were less active, had lower social competence and poorer school achievement). Both groups had an overall positive self-esteem. Differences between girls in the epilepsy and control groups were small, whereas differences among boys were more evident. Older age was related to poorer HRQOL in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study points out the importance of being observant of signs of stigmatization in adolescents with epilepsy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013548:Sweden