title: Dimensions of the epilepsy foundation concerns index.
abstract: We performed principal component analysis (PCA) of the Epilepsy Foundation Concerns Index scale in 189 patients undergoing evaluation for epilepsy surgery. We identified a five-factor solution in which there were no varimax-rotated factors consisting of fewer than two questions. Factor 1 reflects affective impact on enjoyment of life, Factor 2 reflects general autonomy concerns, Factor 3 reflects fear of seizure recurrence, Factor 4 reflects concern of being a burden to one's family, and Factor 5 reflects a perceived lack of understanding by others. Multiple regression using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy--89 question version; Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--2; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale--third edition; and verbal and visual memory tests as predictors demonstrated a different pattern of association with the factor and summary scores. We conclude that the Epilepsy Foundation Concerns Index is multidimensional, and using a global score based on all items may mask specific concerns that may be relevant when applied to individual patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. david.loring@neurology.ufl.edu
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Loring
authors.forename: Glenn J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Larrabee
authors.forename: Kimford J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Meador
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D025341:Principal Component Analysis / Q000379:methods; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012043:Regression, Psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales