title: Self-concept in children and adolescents with epilepsy: The role of family functioning, mothers' emotional symptoms and ADHD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify the associated factors of poor self-concept in children and adolescents with epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients with uncomplicated epilepsy (aged 7-18years) and 28 healthy controls were included. Study measures included the Piers-Harris 2 Self-Concept Scale, Family Assessment Device (FAD), Turgay DSM-IV based ADHD rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S), Conners' Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS-R), Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Neurology clinic charts were reviewed for the epilepsy-related variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the Piers-Harris 2 total score was not significantly different between the groups, patients with epilepsy had lower (poorer) scores on freedom from anxiety and popularity subscales. Linear regression analysis revealed that the problem solving, affective responsiveness, general functioning and communication scores of FAD; total and inattentiveness scores of T-DSM-IV-S and mothers' Beck scores were associated with the total score of Piers-Harris 2. Epilepsy-related factors were not found to be associated with self-concept scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor self-concept in children with epilepsy is associated with negative family functioning, mothers' emotional symptoms and ADHD, especially the symptoms of inattentiveness.
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Mersin University School of Medicine, Turkey. Electronic address: ozalpekinci@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ozalp
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Acıbadem University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Isik
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Mersin University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Department, Istanbul Erdem Hospital, Turkey.
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Mersin University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Killi
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Mersin University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000070777:School Teachers; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: ADHD; Children; Epilepsy; Family; Self-concept