| pubmed-article:11478224 | pubmed:abstractText | The Berlin longitudinal study on teratogenic effects of maternal epilepsy was conducted on children in 1976. Approximately 18 years later, 103 of these children's mothers were reassessed with regard to somatic, psychological, and social well-being or impairment. The families with previously diagnosed epileptic mothers (n = 59) and control families (n = 44) did not statistically differ in rates of family separation, divorce, or unemployment of the partners. There were also no significant differences in the mothers' current psychological quality-of-life status (SF-36) or their beliefs on internal or external disease control (FKK). There were, however, group differences in more closely illness-related aspects. In spite of an appreciable remission rate of 28% over the past 17 years, significantly more mothers in the epilepsy group still reported physical infirmities (GBB), reduced body-related quality of life (SF-36), and more family stress events (FAI). Their self-esteem and competence-related beliefs (FSKN) were significantly lower. They also tended to have a lower level of education or professional training, and some had never been employed. When measuring quality of life, severity of seizure (NHS3) and early epilepsy onset are the major risk factors, regardless of whether one uses epilepsy-specific (QOLIE-10) or general quality-of-life questionnaires (SF-36). | lld:pubmed |
