| Author/Editor | Kobilšek, Katja; Zaviršek, Živa | |
| Title | Psihosocialni dejavniki tveganja pri mladostnikih z epilepsijo | |
| Type | monografija | |
| Place | Ljubljana | |
| Publisher | Univerza v Ljubljani, Medicinska fakulteta | |
| Publication year | 2004 | |
| Volume | str. 62 | |
| Language | slo | |
| Abstract | Background. Next to facilitated physical, cognitive, psychological and social development adolescence is a period of exploration and experimenting, which could turn into risky behaviour. Although the knowledge about risk factors in adolescence has been assessed and founded in several studies in Europe and also in Slovenia, we shouldn't generalize the results to a specific group, such as adolescents with epilepsy. These adolescents are somehow more threatened in their psychosocial development. Therefore they need to be offered comprehensive care, including psychological support and counselling. Aim. The aim of the study is to identify psychosocial risk factors among adolescents with epilepsy and compare them with those among healthy peers. We will also search for possible gender differences within studied group. . Hypothesis. In comparison with healthy peers adolescents with epilepsy feel stronger attachment to their parents and are more aware of health value. Consequently alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking, other drug use (including tranquillisers), is less common among them. Yet they are more depressed, have lower self-esteem and are less physically active. Suicidal risk is higher in this specific group than in healthy population. Methods. The study sample consisted of 68 adolescents (34 males and 34 females) who are treated for epilepsy in Neurology department of Paediatric clinic Ljubljana. The age of these individuals ranged from 14 to 19 years when a structured questionnaire for assessing psychosocial risk factors was administered. Information on their physical and psychosocial medical history was obtained by reviewing medical documentation. The control group consisted of 4260 Slovenian high school students of the same age with no chronical medical condition. They filled in the same questionnaire in a study about psychosocial risk factors (Tomori 1998). (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters). | |
| Descriptors | EPILEPSY ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY SOCIAL BEHAVIOR DISORDERS ALCOHOL DRINKING SUBSTANCE ABUSE PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS DEPRESSIVE DISORDER SUICIDE QUESTIONNAIRES ADOLESCENCE PROSPECTIVE STUDIES |