Abstracts

Rationale: Parental anxiety has been reported to affect the quality of life and behavioral development of children with epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal anxiety about epilepsy and restrictions on childhood activities. Methods: The subjects were seventy-seven English-speaking mothers and their children with epilepsy who were at least 6 years of age and had Full Scale IQ scores of ≥ 70. Mothers provided demographic and completed the Hague Restrictions in Childhood Epilepsy Scale (HARCES). Maternal anxiety about epilepsy was assessed with the Parental Anxiety About Epilepsy Questionnaire (PAE). Intellectual potential (FSIQ) was assessed with an age-appropriate Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression. The Baylor College of Medicine Institutional Review approved this study. Results: The children with epilepsy were 48% female with a mean age of 12.25 (SD=3.2) and mean intelligence of 92.36 (SD=12.74). Higher HARCES scores, indicating increased restriction in childhood activities, were associated with higher levels of maternal anxiety about epilepsy (r = 0.513, p < .0001) and shorter duration of seizure disorder (r = -.345, p = .001). Maternal anxiety accounted for 26.3% of the variance (p < .0001) in restriction in childhood activities with duration of seizure disorder accounting for an additional 7.4% variance (p = .006). Maternal anxiety about epilepsy was associated with the number of anticonvulsant medications (r=.313, p<.006) and lower maternal education (r=-.289, p = .005). Conclusions: Maternal anxiety about epilepsy is associated with greater maternal restrictions on the activities of children, particularly in the early stages of the diagnosis. The number of medications appears to affect a mother's perception of the seriousness of the disorder and, thereby, her anxiety. This finding suggests that improved and, perhaps, ongoing education about epilepsy for mothers of newly diagnosed patients has the potential to reduce maternal anxiety and the ensuing restrictions on childrens' activities, thereby promoting quality of life for both the children and their mothers.