title: Mental health problems in children with uncomplicated epilepsy; relation with parental anxiety.
abstract: Mental health problems and parental anxiety in children with epilepsy were investigated. Parents of 83 children with epilepsy and 172 healthy children were asked to complete Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for their children and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for themselves. In those with epilepsy, 39.8% (n: 33) were girls, 60.2% (n: 50) were boys and their mean age was 9.34 ± 3.99 years. Control group was more successful in school (p < 0.001). Emotional problems score in children with epilepsy was higher than control group (p < 0.001). Case group's behavior problems and attention deficit hyperactivity scores were higher (p < 0.001, p=0.009 respectively). Prosocial behavior scores of the control group were significantly higher (p=0.004). State (p=0.001) and trait (p=0.001) anxiety levels of parents of children with epilepsy were higher. Children with epilepsy have more neuro-behavioral problems; and their parents have greater anxiety levels. Physicians should be in contact with children with epilepsy for the psychological health of the family besides seizure control.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Family Medicine, Konya Training and Research Hospital Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gökgöz-Durmaz
authors.affiliation: Departments of Family Medicine, Konya Training and Research Hospital Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Gökşin
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Cihan
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatric Neurology, Konya Training and Research Hospital Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ruhuşen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kutlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008603:Mental Health; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: ADHD; behavior problems; epilepsy; parent-child interaction