Greenhalgh, Ruth; (1997) Depression, self-esteem and self-perception in people with epilepsy. A comparison of childhood and adult onset groups. Doctoral thesis (D.Clin.Psy), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

The effects of developing epilepsy in childhood upon later psychological well-being were investigated by comparing a group of 16 people who developed epilepsy as children with a group of 16 people who developed the condition in adulthood. It was hypothesised that adolescence is a crucial period in psychological development and that the effects of developing epilepsy on body image, self-concept and social relationships during adolescence will have long term negative effects on psychological well-being. Self-esteem and self-perception were assessed using repertory grids, an assessment technique developed from personal construct theory. On measures of depression, the adult onset group demonstrated significantly higher scores than the childhood onset group. On measures of self-esteem and self-perception, both groups demonstrated a positive construction of self but some differences between the two groups were observed that appeared to reflect the view that other people construed people with epilepsy negatively. Further differences were observed between men and women, employed and unemployed people and those people who were involved in a significant intimate relationship and those who were not. Overall results were encouraging, indicating that people with epilepsy can demonstrate high levels of psychological well-being, regardless of the age of onset of the condition. The potential clinical and research implications of the results were considered, as well as the limitations of the study.

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