Psychiatric comorbidity and familial factors in childhood epilepsy: Parental psychopathology, coping strategies, and family functioning

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the psychiatric diagnoses, parenting attitudes, family functioning among children and adolescents with epilepsy, coping styles of their mothers, and psychiatric symptoms of their mothers and fathers. MethodsForty children and adolescents between the ages of 8 and 18 with epilepsy and 40 healthy controls were included in the study. The clinical interview and other measurements were used to assess psychiatric disorders and familial factors. ResultsAt least one psychiatric disorder was diagnosed in 65% of children and adolescents with epilepsy. It was determined that the mothers and fathers in the epilepsy group had higher anxiety and depression scores than the control group, and the fathers' hostility scores were also higher. The Family Assessment Device (FAD) (problem-solving and affective responsiveness), Coping Strategies Scale (COPE) (mental disengagement and substance use), and Parent Attitude Scale (PAS) (strictness/supervision) subtest scores of the epilepsy group were higher than the control group. ConclusionPsychiatric comorbidities, especially depression, anxiety disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are more common in children and adolescents with epilepsy. The mental health of parents, parent–child relationships, family functioning, and parental coping styles were adversely affected in families with children with epilepsy. It is essential to evaluate psychiatric comorbidity and family factors in children with epilepsy and to create a treatment plan for problem areas.