Psychopathology and family functioning in mothers with epilepsy

Thiels, Cornelia; Steinhausen, Hans‐Christoph

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1994.tb01481.x

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Many studies only looked at specific individuals in the family unit, such as the mothers or primary caregivers 6,24,26,27,30,86,87 . Such groups would be expected to be under much burden as they would have both the role of 'mother', and the additional demands of coping with the condition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epilepsy and the family: a review of current literature

Ellis

Upton

Thompson

2000

Seizure

129

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Although the negative effect of epilepsy on patient's psychosocial well-being has been increasingly documented in the last decade, the influence of the condition on the family has attracted much less interest. This paper reviews the present state of family research, examining the influence of both childhood and adulthood epilepsy on the psychological and social well-being of family members. Studies indicate that epilepsy may cause high levels of psychosocial difficulties for all family members, including stigmatization, stress, psychiatric morbidity, marital problems, poor self esteem and restriction of social activities. Studies also suggest that the family environment may be an important intervening factor between the condition and the outcome for the family unit, and a number of family factors are reviewed which have been suggested to mediate this relationship, with recommendations being made for their use in intervention studies. Shortcomings of the family studies to date are discussed and these include: concentration on examination of issues around family life, studies being based on reports from single members of the family and the selection of subjects from clinical populations. Recommendations are made concerning methodological and conceptual issues that need addressing for future research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is not a problem that has been rectified by subsequent research-even recent studies have used few subjects (e.g. 87 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epilepsy and the family: a review of current literature

Ellis

Upton

Thompson

2000

Seizure

129

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“…33,37,50 Family cohesion, including the parental marital relationship, was also a significant factor in child responses for half of the 10 conditions. 48,51,58,68,78,79,81,88 Parental psychopathology was also associated with poor child responses and stress. 60,65,66,70,[79][80][81]83,91,93 Female children were seen to be at an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, stress, or behavioural problems compared to males in four conditions.…”

Section: Overview Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

<p>Young People’s Response to Parental Neurological Disorder: A Structured Review</p>

Hartman

Jenkinson

Morley

2020

AHMT

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Introduction: A significant paucity of literature exists relating to the impact on children of parental neurological disorder, with the exception of multiple sclerosis. The wider literature in this field (parental cancer, depression, alcoholism, HIV/AIDS) exhibits the many potential challenges young people might experience during serious parental illness. Given this, a literature review of parental neurological disorder is long overdue. Methods: This review is structured around the World Health Organisation (WHO) classification of neurological disorders. The WHO identifies 10 common neurological disorders; dementia, epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis, neuroinfections, neurological disorders associated with malnutrition, pain associated with neurological disorders, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE database was performed using key terms for each of the 10 conditions. Results for each condition were divided in to "negative", "positive and/or neutral" and "other" child responses. Results: The search yielded a total of 6247 titles, of which 184 underwent a full-text assessment. Sixty-five met all eligibility criteria and were thus included in the review. A number of negative issues emerged across parental conditions including the prevalence of child mood disorders, parent-child role reversal, children's need for information on the parental condition, the importance of family cohesion, the negative effect of parental psychopathology and differences between male and female children. A limited number of positive outcomes were evident in a minority of parental conditions. Outcomes measured and methodologies employed were highly heterogeneous. Conclusion: Children generally respond negatively to parental neurological disorder. Responses varied between neurological disorders, suggesting the need for parental diseasespecific guidance and clinical management where required.

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“…One may suspect that these children could be at risk of developing psychosocial or psychological problems, or even physical symptoms. A literature search revealed only a few reports of the situation for children of persons with epilepsy, 7 , 8 but these articles describe the children’s psychosocial situation rather than focusing on the physical risks they possibly face. One author, for example, describes that the epilepsy of one parent changes the family roles, and fear and anxiety can disrupt the family equilibrium.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy

Gauffin¹,

Landtblom²

2014

NDT

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Historically, epilepsy has been associated with violence, but more recent studies have emphasized genetic and psychosocial factors as more important. The case series presented here aim to highlight the difficult situation the affected children are in. We report on three cases when children have been traumatized and, in one case, even been killed by their parent who was diagnosed with epilepsy. In the first case, we describe a woman with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy who was sentenced to forensic psychiatry care for killing her child. She lived under difficult psychosocial circumstances and a suicide attempt contributed to what happened. The second case describes a man with post-traumatic seizures who was sentenced for child abuse. Ictal or postictal violence was considered in these two cases but a causal link between the violence and epilepsy has not been established. In the third case, we describe a woman with focal epilepsy and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs). Her child was hurt and frightened in relation to violent seizures, which were regarded as PNESs. This case series demonstrates that children of parents with epilepsy can be in a vulnerable situation. No causality has been established between the seizures and these events, so consequently other factors such as psychosocial stress, low cognitive function, and a suicide attempt must also be considered as important. When a child is hurt by a parent with epilepsy the patient must be closely examined to determine the role of the seizures. Children can also be affected by PNESs. It is essential to notice especially those children of parents with epilepsy who live under difficult psychosocial circumstances and offer extra support when necessary.

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Psychopathology and family functioning in mothers with epilepsy

Cited by 9 publications

References 23 publications

Epilepsy and the family: a review of current literature

Epilepsy and the family: a review of current literature

<p>Young People’s Response to Parental Neurological Disorder: A Structured Review</p>

Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy

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