title: Epileptic aura and perception of self-control.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The health locus of control is the subjective perception of control over one's health. It has been studied for years as one of several factors that determine patient health-related behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate how the epileptic aura is associated with the health locus of control, anxiety, and depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were included retrospectively, based on patient records from the epilepsy monitoring unit of the Rigshospitalet University Hospital. Participants were asked about the presence and nature of auras in a semistructured interview. The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, Form C was used to evaluate the health locus of control. Three domains were evaluated: internal, where health is controlled by personal action; chance, where health is controlled by fate or luck; and powerful others, where health is controlled by the actions of others (e.g., doctors and parents). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to evaluate levels of anxiety and depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-nine patients, with mean age of 38years, participated in the study. Of these, 67% reported experiencing one or more auras; i.e., subjective warning signs prior to a generalized or focal seizure with an impairment in consciousness. Patients that could react to their aura prior to a seizure scored higher on the internal subscale of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control questionnaire compared to participants that could not react to their aura.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability to react to an aura prior to a seizure correlated positively with the internal subscale of the health locus of control. However, it did not significantly correlate with the external subscales of chance and powerful others in the health locus of control. Moreover, there was no significant relation between the ability to react to an aura prior to a seizure and the levels of anxiety or depression.
authors.affiliation: The Epilepsy Clinic, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: allanlohse@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lohse
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Troels W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.affiliation: The Epilepsy Clinic, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabers
authors.affiliation: The Danish Epilepsy Hospital, Dianalund, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Epilepsy; Epileptic aura; Health locus of control; Seizure detection; Seizure warning