• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2020

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of clinical and psychological factors on the parental stress of children and adolescents with epilepsy. Methods : Children and adolescents with epilepsy (n=90, age range=6-17 years) completed questionnaires on epilepsy-related variables, children's depressive symptoms (Children's Depression Inventory, CDI), children's anxiety (Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, RCMAS) and performed the scale for children's intelligence (IQ). Parents who have children and adolescents with epilepsy completed questionnaires on parental stress (Questionnaire on Resources and stress, QRS), parental anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), children's attention problems (Abbreviated Conners Parent Rating Scale Revised, CPRS), and children's behavioral problems (Korean Child Behavior Checklist, K-CBCL). Stepwise regression analysis was performed to determine the significant predictive variables that affect parental stress. Results : In the correlational analysis, duration of seizure treatment (r=0.253, p=0.016), children's IQ (r=-0.544, p<0.001), children's attention problems (r=0.602, p<0.001), children's depressive symptoms (r=0.335, p=0.002), children's anxiety (r=0.306, p=0.004), children's behavioral problems (r=0.618, p<0.001), and parental anxiety (r=0.478, p<0.001), showed a significant correlation with parental stress. Children's behavioral problem (β=0.241, p=0.010), children's IQ (β=-0.472, p<0.001), and parental anxiety (β=0.426, p<0.001) were significantly related to the parental stress (Adjusted R²=0.619). Conclusions : Clinicians should pay attention to children's intelligence and behavioral problems and parental anxiety, which affect parental stress with children and adolescents with epilepsy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2009

Purpose : In adults, valproate (VPA) has been reported to be associated with thrombocytopenia. However, few studies have investigated this association in children, and the factors affecting platelet counts remain controversial. This study was undertaken to investigate changes in platelet counts following VPA therapy and related factors in children with epilepsy. Methods : Our subjects comprised 75 epileptic children who had received VPA monotherapy for at least 1 year between January 2000 and December 2005. We regularly examined platelet counts at intervals of 6 to 12 months after baseline platelet counts before VPA treatment. We analyzed changes in platelet counts according to several factors such as sex, seizure type, underlying causes of epilepsy, age at the start of medication as well as at the last follow up, duration of VPA administration, VPA dose, serum VPA level, and body weight at the last follow up. Results : Overall, the platelet counts decreased significantly after VPA therapy. The average baseline platelet count was $312.5{\pm}109.1{\times}10^6/mL$. At the last follow up, the average platelet count was $261.7{\pm}72.2{\times}10^6/mL$. We observed the relationship between platelet counts and serum levels of VPA; while children with serum VPA <$75{\mu}g/mL$ showed no change in platelet counts (P=0.102), children with serum VPA >$75{\mu}g/mL$ showed a significant decrease in platelet counts. Conclusion : VPA may cause a significantly decreased platelet count in children with epilepsy. High serum VPA levels were associated with development of thrombocytopenia.