QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND PERSONALITY IN ADULTS WITH EPILEPSY

Purpose: This study was undertaken to understand the quality of life, personality, and associated factors in patients with epilepsy. Methods : 117 patients with epilepsy and 84 healthy people were studied and te sted using the Social Support Scale, the General Well-being Schedule, the Life-Event Scale, the Behavior Pattern Scale, and the Eysenck Pers onality Questionnaire (EPQ). Results: There were no significant differ ences between the patients with epilepsy and the control group in the Social Support Scale results. The General Well-being Schedule scores w ere lower for the case patients than for the control group (p < 0.01). Scores for patients with frequent seizures (once a month or more) wer e lower than those without frequent seizures (less than once per month ). The case patients had higher negative scores in the family-related problem section of the Life Events Scale, compared with the control gr oup (p < 0.05). The patients with epilepsy were also more likely to li e (p < 0.05); their emotions were more changeable (p < 0.01), and thei r character more introverted (p < 0.05), although their behavior patte rns were similar to the controls. We also studied associated factors r elated to personality, general well-being, and familial-negative life- events. Conclusions: These results provide information about patients with epilepsy that may be useful in their psychological treatment.