Temperament characteristics and its determinants in children with epilepsy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the temperament of children with epilepsy and the effects of various epilepsy-related variables on it. Methods The temperament of 60 pairs of epilepsy and normal children were assessed by temperament scale. The results of the two groups were compared. Epilepsy-related variables were analyzed. Result The scores of all dimensional variables in the epilepsy group were higher than that in normal group. The differences in adaptability and intensity of response between the two groups was statistically significant ( P <0. 05), and the differences in rhythmicity, approach-withdrawal toward new situations, emotional nature and persistence were more notable ( P <0.01). The temperament of epilepsy children was incline to difficult temperament( X2 = 10. 91, P <0.01). Age at onset of epilepsy, main caregiver and maternal education level had impaction on the temperament of epilepsy children..Conclusions The temperaments of epilepsy children tend to be negative. Children's temperaments are inclined to easy when their mothers are well educated and their main caregivers are parents, while they tend to be difficult temperament when the age of onset is early. Key words: Epilepsy/PX; Temperament; Questionnaires