Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in childhood. Children with epilepsy have been found to have high rates of adaptation problems, especially mental health and academic achievement problems. Factors accounting for these problems, however, have not been identified. The goal of this study is to identify factors that are related to these problems over time. The sample will be 160 youth (80 girls and 80 boys) ages 9-14 years, who have been diagnosed and treated for epilepsy for at least 6 months. Data will be collected three times over a 2-year period: baseline, 1 year, and 2 years. The primary aim is to identify a predictive model for child adaptation (behavior problems, self-concept, depression, psychiatric syndrome, and academic achievement) over time based on selected neurological, seizure condition, family, and child variables. Neurological variables include brain structure and neuropsychological functioning (e.g., intelligence, memory, attention, learning, and executive function). Seizure condition variables include age at onset, type, syndrome, frequency, severity, and anti-epilepsy medication and side effects. Family variables include demographics (socioeconomic status and parent education); parent responses (perceptions of stigma and coping responses); family environment (stressors, resources, and adaptation); and parent psychosocial care needs. Child variables include demographics (age, gender, and pubertal status); response (attitudes, coping, and learned helplessness); and psychosocial care needs. Data analyses will include repeated measures regression and structural equation modeling. We will determine the extent to which neurological, seizure, family and child variables are related to child mental health and academic achievement over time. In addition, we will elaborate the above model by identifying how by exploring whether selected variables serve as mediating (e.g. child responses) or moderating (e.g., intelligence) variables in the model.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NR004536-01
Application #
2387586
Study Section
Nursing Research Study Section (NURS)
Program Officer
Helmers, Karin F
Project Start
1997-09-01
Project End
2002-05-31
Budget Start
1997-09-01
Budget End
1998-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
005436803
City
Indianapolis
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
46202
Austin, Joan K; Perkins, Susan M; Dunn, David W (2014) A model for internalized stigma in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 36:74-9
Buelow, Janice M; Perkins, Susan M; Johnson, Cynthia S et al. (2012) Adaptive functioning in children with epilepsy and learning problems. J Child Neurol 27:1241-9
Dunn, David W; Austin, Joan K; Perkins, Susan M (2009) Prevalence of psychopathology in childhood epilepsy: categorical and dimensional measures. Dev Med Child Neurol 51:364-72
Fastenau, Philip S; Jianzhao Shen; Dunn, David W et al. (2008) Academic underachievement among children with epilepsy: proportion exceeding psychometric criteria for learning disability and associated risk factors. J Learn Disabil 41:195-207
Austin, Joan K; Shore, Cheryl P; Dunn, David W et al. (2008) Development of the parent response to child illness (PRCI) scale. Epilepsy Behav 13:662-9
Katzenstein, Jennifer M; Fastenau, Philip S; Dunn, David W et al. (2007) Teachers'ratings of the academic performance of children with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 10:426-31
Funderburk, Janet A; McCormick, Bryan P; Austin, Joan K (2007) Does attitude toward epilepsy mediate the relationship between perceived stigma and mental health outcomes in children with epilepsy? Epilepsy Behav 11:71-6
Austin, Joan K; Dunn, David W; Perkins, Susan M et al. (2006) Youth With Epilepsy: Development of a Model of Children's Attitudes Toward Their Condition. Child Health Care 35:123-140
Buelow, Janice M; Shore, Cheryl P (2006) Childhood epilepsy: failures along the path to diagnosis and treatment. Epilepsy Behav 9:440-7
Koop, Jennifer I; Fastenau, Philip S; Dunn, David W et al. (2005) Neuropsychological correlates of electroencephalograms in children with epilepsy. Epilepsy Res 64:49-62

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