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Self‐reported symptoms of psychological well‐being in young adults who underwent resective epilepsy surgery in childhood
Author(s) -
Smith Mary Lou,
Kelly Kristin,
Kadis Darren S.,
Elliott Irene M.,
Olds Janet,
Whiting Sharon,
Snyder Thomas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03026.x
Subject(s) - epilepsy , epilepsy surgery , mood , profile of mood states , distress , psychiatry , young adult , psychology , checklist , medicine , pediatrics , clinical psychology , cognitive psychology
Summary Purpose: This study investigated the relationship of childhood resective surgery for lesional epilepsy and recent seizure history on self‐reported symptoms of mood and psychological distress in young adults (aged 18–30). Methods: Ninety‐eight individuals with epilepsy of childhood onset were divided into three groups: a seizure‐free surgical group (n = 39), a surgical group still experiencing seizures (n = 31), and a nonsurgical epilepsy comparison group (n = 28). Participants completed two standardized questionnaires about current mood state and psychological and psychiatric symptoms: the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Symptom Checklist‐90 Revised (SCL‐90R). Key Findings: Forty‐eight percent of all participants reported a history of psychological problems. The percentage of the seizure‐free surgical group who met the SCL‐90R criteria for current clinically significant distress was statistically less than in the other groups. Those who were seizure free also reported significantly fewer total symptoms on the SCL‐90R. The current number of antiepileptic medications was related to scores on a number of the scales. Significance: These results provide modest support for the contention that seizure freedom after pediatric epilepsy surgery is associated with reduced risk for psychological distress during early adulthood.