title: Personality traits of children before and after epilepsy surgery.
abstract: We studied how children with epilepsy (CWE) who are candidates for epilepsy surgery, perceive themselves with respect to overarching personality traits and whether the traits change after surgery. We explored influences of demographic and illness variables. A total of 23 CWE [mean age at inclusion 12.8 (sd 2.3); 12 girls] participated. Using the Dutch Personality Questionnaire Juniors (DPQ-J), we assessed 20 of the CWE shortly before epilepsy surgery and compared the results to those of 39 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Furthermore, we obtained follow-up scores 6, 12 and 24 months after epilepsy surgery from the clinical group. CWE who were candidates for epilepsy surgery scored above average in inadequacy, perseverance, social inadequacy and recalcitrance, whereas healthy peers scored average. Over the two years' period after epilepsy surgery we found no changes, apart from a decrease of social inadequacy. Sporadic illness and demographic variables were related to some personality traits. However, neither post-surgical seizure freedom nor cessation of AEDs did noticeably change the self-evaluations of CWE. Asking CWE to evaluate their personality themselves may offer a shared basis for individually tailored behavior intervention in order to help them adapting to their ameliorated circumstances after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Sector of Neuropsychology for Children and Adolescents, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Psychology and Social Work, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands; Bio Research Center for Children, Wekeromseweg 8, 6816 VS Arnhem, The Netherlands. Electronic address: obraams@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Braams
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Psychology and Social Work, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Renske
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schappin
authors.affiliation: Sector of Neuropsychology for Children and Adolescents, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands; Bio Research Center for Children, Wekeromseweg 8, 6816 VS Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meekes
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van Rijen
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands; Bio Research Center for Children, Wekeromseweg 8, 6816 VS Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Onno
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: van Nieuwenhuizen
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kees P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Sector of Neuropsychology for Children and Adolescents, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands; Bio Research Center for Children, Wekeromseweg 8, 6816 VS Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Aag
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jennekens-Schinkel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Child adolescent; Epilepsy surgery; Personality behavior