Personality traits of children before and after epilepsy surgery

Olga Braams; Renske Schappin; Joost Meekes; Peter C van Rijen; Onno van Nieuwenhuizen; Kees P Braun; Aag Jennekens-Schinkel

doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.04.001

Personality traits of children before and after epilepsy surgery

Epilepsy Res. 2017 Jul:133:10-12. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.04.001. Epub 2017 Apr 3.

Authors

Olga Braams¹, Renske Schappin², Joost Meekes³, Peter C van Rijen⁴, Onno van Nieuwenhuizen⁵, Kees P Braun⁴, Aag Jennekens-Schinkel³

Affiliations

¹ Sector of Neuropsychology for Children and Adolescents, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Psychology and Social Work, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands; Bio Research Center for Children, Wekeromseweg 8, 6816 VS Arnhem, The Netherlands. Electronic address: obraams@umcutrecht.nl.
² Department of Pediatric Psychology and Social Work, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
³ Sector of Neuropsychology for Children and Adolescents, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands; Bio Research Center for Children, Wekeromseweg 8, 6816 VS Arnhem, The Netherlands.
⁴ Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
⁵ Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Departments of Child Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands; Bio Research Center for Children, Wekeromseweg 8, 6816 VS Arnhem, The Netherlands.

PMID: 28399413
DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.04.001

Abstract

We studied how children with epilepsy (CWE) who are candidates for epilepsy surgery, perceive themselves with respect to overarching personality traits and whether the traits change after surgery. We explored influences of demographic and illness variables. A total of 23 CWE [mean age at inclusion 12.8 (sd 2.3); 12 girls] participated. Using the Dutch Personality Questionnaire Juniors (DPQ-J), we assessed 20 of the CWE shortly before epilepsy surgery and compared the results to those of 39 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Furthermore, we obtained follow-up scores 6, 12 and 24 months after epilepsy surgery from the clinical group. CWE who were candidates for epilepsy surgery scored above average in inadequacy, perseverance, social inadequacy and recalcitrance, whereas healthy peers scored average. Over the two years' period after epilepsy surgery we found no changes, apart from a decrease of social inadequacy. Sporadic illness and demographic variables were related to some personality traits. However, neither post-surgical seizure freedom nor cessation of AEDs did noticeably change the self-evaluations of CWE. Asking CWE to evaluate their personality themselves may offer a shared basis for individually tailored behavior intervention in order to help them adapting to their ameliorated circumstances after surgery.

Keywords: Child adolescent; Epilepsy surgery; Personality behavior.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Cognition / physiology
Epilepsy / psychology*
Epilepsy / surgery*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Neurosurgical Procedures / methods
Personality Inventory
Personality*
Sex Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Treatment Outcome*