Epileptic aura and perception of self-control

TY - JOUR

T1 - Epileptic aura and perception of self-control

AU - Lohse, Allan

AU - Kjaer, Troels W

AU - Sabers, Anne

AU - Wolf, Peter

N1 - Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/4/1

Y1 - 2015/4/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The health locus of control is the subjective perception of control over one's health. It has been studied for years as one of several factors that determine patient health-related behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate how the epileptic aura is associated with the health locus of control, anxiety, and depression.METHODS: Patients were included retrospectively, based on patient records from the epilepsy monitoring unit of the Rigshospitalet University Hospital. Participants were asked about the presence and nature of auras in a semistructured interview. The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, Form C was used to evaluate the health locus of control. Three domains were evaluated: internal, where health is controlled by personal action; chance, where health is controlled by fate or luck; and powerful others, where health is controlled by the actions of others (e.g., doctors and parents). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to evaluate levels of anxiety and depression.RESULTS: Forty-nine patients, with mean age of 38years, participated in the study. Of these, 67% reported experiencing one or more auras; i.e., subjective warning signs prior to a generalized or focal seizure with an impairment in consciousness. Patients that could react to their aura prior to a seizure scored higher on the internal subscale of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control questionnaire compared to participants that could not react to their aura.CONCLUSIONS: The ability to react to an aura prior to a seizure correlated positively with the internal subscale of the health locus of control. However, it did not significantly correlate with the external subscales of chance and powerful others in the health locus of control. Moreover, there was no significant relation between the ability to react to an aura prior to a seizure and the levels of anxiety or depression.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The health locus of control is the subjective perception of control over one's health. It has been studied for years as one of several factors that determine patient health-related behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate how the epileptic aura is associated with the health locus of control, anxiety, and depression.METHODS: Patients were included retrospectively, based on patient records from the epilepsy monitoring unit of the Rigshospitalet University Hospital. Participants were asked about the presence and nature of auras in a semistructured interview. The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, Form C was used to evaluate the health locus of control. Three domains were evaluated: internal, where health is controlled by personal action; chance, where health is controlled by fate or luck; and powerful others, where health is controlled by the actions of others (e.g., doctors and parents). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to evaluate levels of anxiety and depression.RESULTS: Forty-nine patients, with mean age of 38years, participated in the study. Of these, 67% reported experiencing one or more auras; i.e., subjective warning signs prior to a generalized or focal seizure with an impairment in consciousness. Patients that could react to their aura prior to a seizure scored higher on the internal subscale of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control questionnaire compared to participants that could not react to their aura.CONCLUSIONS: The ability to react to an aura prior to a seizure correlated positively with the internal subscale of the health locus of control. However, it did not significantly correlate with the external subscales of chance and powerful others in the health locus of control. Moreover, there was no significant relation between the ability to react to an aura prior to a seizure and the levels of anxiety or depression.

KW - Adult

KW - Anxiety

KW - Depression

KW - Epilepsy

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Internal-External Control

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Perception

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Self Concept

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

U2 - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.01.030

DO - 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.01.030

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25843341

SN - 1525-5050

VL - 45

SP - 191

EP - 194

JO - Epilepsy & Behavior

JF - Epilepsy & Behavior

ER -