title: Adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs and quality of life in pediatric epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In pediatric epilepsy, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) may be affected across the physical, psychological, social, and school domains. Studies have shown that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) could have a significant negative impact on HRQOL, but these findings are scarce and inconsistent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence that the adverse effects of AEDs have on HRQOL in pediatric epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 75 children with epilepsy and at least one parent participated in this study. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was utilized to assess the HRQOL, while the Adverse Event Profile (AEP) was used to assess the presence and severity of the adverse effects of AEDs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessing the children's ratings, the AEP score significantly influenced the PedsQL based psychosocial functioning score (P < 0.02; partial ç2 = 0.07); and, assessing the parents' ratings, the AEP score significantly influenced both the PedsQL based physical functioning score (P < 0.02; partial ç2 = 0.07) as well as the PedsQL psychosocial functioning score (P < 0.001, partial ç2 = 0.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency and severity of AED-related adverse effects could significantly predict the lowered levels of HRQOL among children with epilepsy, in particular having a large impact on their psychosocial functioning.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jovanovic
authors.forename: Bosanka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jocic-Jakubi
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Neurology and Psychiatry for Children and Youth, Dr. Subotic 6a, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stevanovic