[Psychosocial adjustment, relationship and self-concept in siblings of children with idiopathic epilepsy syndromes].
BACKGROUND
Psychosocial adjustment, relationship and self-concept in siblings of children with idiopathic epilepsy was compared with healthy controls.


METHODS
173 persons--68 siblings, 62 mothers and 43 fathers--from the study group (children with idiopathic epilepsy) and matched controls were investigated.


METHODS
Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), Self-Description-Questionnaire I and II (SDQ) and Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ) were used.


RESULTS
There were more somatic complaints of the siblings reported by the mothers of the study group. They also noted more nurturance of the sibling than mothers of healthy children did. The data of the fathers showed more dominance of the sibling. Siblings of children with epilepsy showed more prosocial action towards their classmates. In families with a new diagnosed epilepsy the fathers noticed more problems in school und somatic complaints of the siblings. The number of seizures, which were seen by the sibling, not the absolute number of seizures, had an influence on the behavior of the siblings; these siblings had more social problems than siblings, who had never seen a seizure.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest a close cooperation with the families and constant inclusion in the treatment as claimed by recent systemic family medicine. Resource-orientated and salutogenetic aspects should be given a greater focus in modern work with families and especially siblings.
Freilinger
M
M
Abteilung für Allgemeine Pädiatrie, Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde Wien.
Neussl
D
D
Hansbauer
T
T
Reiter
E
E
Seidl
R
R
Schubert
M T
MT
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012016:Reference Values; D012640:Seizures / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012801:Sibling Relations; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013598:Systems Theory