Elisabete Abib Pedroso de Souza

Impacto da epilepsia no trabalho: avaliação da qualidade de vida

This study searched for the knowledge of the most affected aspects in the quality of life (QoL) of patients with epilepsy. The sample consisted of 134 individuals with epilepsy, aging 18 to 59 years (M=35.38; DP=9.86) chosen at random from the Ambulatory of Epilepsy of HC/UNICAMP, interviewed by the QoL-65. Most of the subjects have not completed elementary school (58.2%), have not had any paid work (69.5%) and were single (48.5%). The most affected factor in epilepsy was the work area (31.29%), what reinforces studies showing the high level of unemployment or subemployment in epileptic population and aware to the importance of the insertion in the work-market as an economic and social integration factor and as a way of improving self-esteem.

The effect of psychotherapy in patients with PD: a controlled study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether group psychotherapy was effective in improving of quality of life and would decrease the symptoms of anxiety and depression in Parkinsons disease patients. Sixteen subjects, with idiopathic Parkinsons disease recruited from the school clinical Hospital/UNICAMP. Were randomly divided in to two groups, experimental and control. Parkinsons Disease and Quality of Life - PDQL; Beck Depression Inventory - BDI; State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory - STAI were used to evaluate the patients. The statistical analysis showed significant effect of the interaction group vs. time in depression (0.0009), anxiety (<0.0001) and QuoL (0.0018) and positive changes in depression (0.0029), anxiety (0.0009) and QuoL (0.0047) for the treated group.

The second step in the construction of a stigma scale of epilepsy

RATIONALE The issue of stigmatization is one of the most common psychosocial problems faced by people with epilepsy. PURPOSE A second step towards the development of a scale to measure epilepsy stigma. METHOD We applied a closed questionnaire to 12 patients and 32 relatives from the Epilepsy Outpatient Clinic at the University Hospital of Campinas. RESULTS The results are grouped in three main domains: medical, social and personal areas. Medical: the subjects did not know exactly what epilepsy is or how it is caused; nonetheless they know how to treat it. Social: the most important areas that people with epilepsy are discriminated are at work and social relationships. Patients also complained about their lack of freedom and limits on recreation activities. Personal Area: subjects apparently have the same feelings and thoughts about epilepsy and seizures. CONCLUSION This study analyzed the most common aspects presented in the questionnaire to assess epilepsy stigma for the Brazilian culture which are the base to the elaboration of a stigma scale of epilepsy.

Sentimentos e reações de pais de crianças epilépticas

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of support groups in identifying parents feelings and behaviors facing the diagnosis of epilepsy in their children. METHODS: Protocols were applied to 18 parents before and after the sessions. Each protocol consisted of questions concerning feelings and beliefs toward epilepsy as well as children-parent interactions. RESULTS: The following feelings were observed: disappointment (94.4%), fear (72.2%), frightening (27.8%), sadness (33.3%), anxiety (27.8%) and rejection (38.9%). These feelings were associated with overprotection (83.3%) and a lack of limits (38.9%). Parents reported feeling of safety after seizure control and 77.8% associate major of difficulties to the lack of information and the inadequated beliefs involved. After support sessions, 94.4% of the parents reported less anxiety. CONCLUSION: Support groups dispel misconception, clarify child parent relationships and prevent behavioral difficulties.

Qualidade de vida em epilepsia e percepção de controle de crises

The individual affective-cognitive evaluations are important factors that control the way he feels the disease impact in his life. Then, the perception of seizure control is a more important factor to evaluate Quality of Life (QoL) than the illness characteristics, such as the severity, type, sickening period and seizure frequency. This study searched for the relationship among the subjective variables (perception of seizure control) and the illness characteristics to evaluate QoL. The sample consisted of 60 individuals with chronic epilepsy, aging 18 to 70 (M=37.05; SD=11.25), chosen at randon from the ambulatory of epilepsy - HC/UNICAMP, by the Questionnaire 65. The illness characteristics were not significant, except the seizures frequency, when associated to the impairment in QoL among controlled seizures and seizures with frequency higher than 10 per month (p=0.021). The perception of control was significantly associated to QoL (p=0.005).

Sexual dysfunction in epilepsy: identifying the psychological variables

In order to evaluate the psychological variables that affect sexual dysfunction (SD) in epilepsy, where compared 60 epileptics (Group 1) with 60 healthy individuals (Group 2), through the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger et al., 1970), Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, 1974) and Sexual Behavior Interview (Souza, 1995). Sexual dysfunction (SD), anxiety and depression were found more frequently in Group 1 than in Group 2 and were not related to sex. Variables such as the onset duration and frequency of seizures as well as the use to medication were not associated with SD. Temporal lobe epilepsy was related to SD (p = 0.035) but not to anxiety or depression. Anxiety and depression were related to SD in both groups. Perception in controlling the seizures was closely related to anxiety (p = 0) and depression (p = 0.009). We conclude that psychological factors play an important role in the alteration of sexual behavior in epileptics and that suitable attention must be given to the control of these variables.

Locus of control, depression, and quality of life in Parkinson's Disease.

People can attribute the source of control of events that involve them either to internal or external factors. Through this view, depression can be defined as a belief that one’s own behavior is not effective. In case of chronic diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease, depression is more frequent than in the general population. The present study aimed to assess locus of control orientation and its relation with depression and quality of life in 30 patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Results showed positive correlation between external locus orientation and depression and quality of life scores, and negative correlation between internal orientation and depression.

The Brazilian version of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory for Adolescents: translation, validity, and reliability.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory for Adolescents (QOLIE-AD-48) into Brazilian Portuguese, as well as to evaluate the psychometric properties of this Brazilian version. METHODS The QOLIE-AD-48 Brazilian version was tested with respect to reliability and validity in 93 adolescents with epilepsy. Patients completed the Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI), Childrens Depression Evaluation Scale (CDES), and Adverse Events Profile (AEP). A subset of these patients were reexamined after 3-4 weeks to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the inventory. We assessed validity by comparing the QOLIE-AD-48 Brazilian version with external measures. RESULTS Internal consistency was satisfactory (Cronbachs alpha=0.87). Test-retest reliability was acceptable as well (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.52-0.81). Moreover, the QOLIE-AD-48 Brazilian version was highly correlated with other scales, demonstrating strong validity. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the QOLIE-AD-48 Brazilian version has psychometric properties equivalent to those of the original American-English version and is a valid and reliable instrument for assessment of health-related quality of life in adolescents with epilepsy in Brazil or other Portuguese-speaking countries.

Questionário de qualidade de vida na epilepsia: resultados preliminares

Seizures happen for brief periods of time, but the feelings of anxiety and helplessness, adaptation to the restrictions impose by the life-style and variety of other problems affect more the quality of life in epilepsy. This study proposes a protocol that regards the objectives of a quality of life assessment in health and is applied to a population that attends a university hospital. It contains 65 items and assesses the psychosocial performance, physical limitation, cognitive aspects, perception of control, self-concept, as well as perception of health and quality of life. The results of reliability and validity are discussed.

Qualidade de vida na epilepsia infantil

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder in which onset occurs primarily during childhood and adolescence. Traditionally, treatment of childhood epilepsy emphasizes neurologic aspects over psychological factors. The attention to the seizure control in the clinical setting will not address the full range of quality of life problems of childhood epilepsy. Many of the psychosocial difficulties that plague adults with epilepsy develop from the complications associated with this early onset. Children with epilepsy have a high prevalence of behavior problems and learning problems. Assessing quality of life in pediatric epilepsy is especially important because children are in critical periods of development during which many cognitive and social skills are being learned. This study presents a simplified inventory of quality of life, with cultural, personal, social and relationship aspects. This investigation makes possible to the professional knowledge about children and a best direction of their conducts.