Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-x4r87 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-28T22:47:30.830Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Psychological Adjustment to Success and to Failure following Epilepsy Surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Paul A. Derry  and
Samuel Wiebe
Paul A. Derry
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Services, London Health Sciences Centre, University Campus, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
Samuel Wiebe
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, University Campus, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Treatment-refractory epilepsy can directly impair psychological adjustment and quality of life. Epilepsy surgery is viewed by the patient as a stressful life event, arrived at after extensive deliberation. It is accompanied by expectations and anxiety for patients and their families. We suggest that the success of epilepsy surgery (as reflected by patient-perceived impact on quality of life) depends not only on reduced seizure frequency, but on personality factors and psychosocial issues. This paper reviews our research on these factors, along with suggestions for psychological assessment (of quality of life, and of personality) and psychological treatment. Studies of quality of life in patients undergoing temporal lobectomy are also examined. Finally, factors leading to the perception of “failed” epilepsy surgery are considered, along with suggested ways to manage such cases.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 27 , Issue S1: Canadian Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery Workshop , May 2000 , pp. S116 - S120
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2000

References

REFERENCES

1. McLachlan, RS, Rose, KJ, Derry, PA,et al. Health-related quality oflife and seizure control in temporal lobe epilepsy. Ann Neurol 1997;41:482–489.Google Scholar
2. Cramer, JA. Quality of life for people with epilepsy. Neurol Clin 1994;12:1–13.Google Scholar
3. Jacoby, A. Epilepsy and the quality of everyday life: findings from astudy of people with well-controlled epilepsy. Soc Sci Med 1992;34:657–666.Google Scholar
4. Hermann, B. Quality of life in epilepsy. J Epilepsy 1992;5:153–165.Google Scholar
5. Antonak, RF, Livneh, H. A review of research on psychosocialadjustment to impairment among persons with epilepsy. J Epilepsy 1992;5:194–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Dodrill, CB. Cognitive and psychosocial effects of epilepsy onadults. In: Wyllie, E, ed. The Treatment of Epilepsy: Principles and Practices. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1993:1133–1140.Google Scholar
7. Levin, R, Banks, S, Berg, B. Psychosocial dimensions of epilepsy: areview of the literature. Epilepsia 1982:23;671–681.Google Scholar
8. Surgery for Epilepsy. NIH Consensus Statement. 1990 Mar19-21; 8(2):1–20.Google Scholar
9. Engel, J Jr, VanNess, PC, Rasmussen, TB, Ojemann, LM. Outcomewith respect to epileptic seizures. In: Engel, J Jr, ed. Surgical Treatment of the Epilepsies. New York: Raven Press, 1993:609–621.Google Scholar
10. Spencer, DD … Inserni, J. Temporal lobectomy. In: Luders, HO, ed. Epilepsy Surgery. New York: Raven Press, 1991:533–545.Google Scholar
11. Spencer, SS. Long-term outcome after epilepsy surgery. Epilepsia 1996;37:807–813.Google Scholar
12. McLachlan, RS, Chovaz, CJ, Blume, WT, Girvin, JP. Temporallobectomy for intractable epilepsy in patients over age 45 years.Neurology. 1992 Mar; 42(3 Pt 1): 662–665.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Duchowny, M, Levin, B, Jayakar, P, Resnick, T,et al. Temporallobectomy in early childhood. Epilepsia 1992;33(2):298–303.Google Scholar
14. Girvin, JP. Resection of intracranial lesions under local anesthesia.Int Anesthesiol Clin 1986;24:135–155.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15. Blume, WT. Principles of clinical investigation of surgical patients.Int Anesthesiol Clin 1986;24:47–63.Google Scholar
16. Lazarus, RS, Folkman, S. Stress, Appraisal and Coping. New York:Springer, 1984.Google Scholar
17. Taylor, S. Health Psychology, 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill 1995.Google Scholar
18. Kobassa, SC. Stressful life events, personality, and health: an inquiryinto hardiness. J Pers Soc Psychol 1979;37 1–11.Google Scholar
19. Scheier, MF, Carver, CS. Effects of optimism on psychological andphysical well-being: theoretical overview and empirical update. Cog Theory Res 1992;16:201–228.Google Scholar
20. Derry, PA, Chovaz, C, McLachlan, RS, Cummings, AL. Learnedresourcefulness and psychosocial adjustment following temporal lobectomy in epilepsy. J Soc Clin Psychol 1993;12:454–470.Google Scholar
21. Vickrey, BG, Hays, RD, Engel, J. Jr, et al. Outcome assessment forepilepsy surgery: the impact of measuring health-related quality of life. Ann Neurol 1995;37:158–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22. Vickrey, BG, Hays, RD, Rausch, R, et al. Outcomes in 248 patientswho had diagnostic evaluations for epilepsy surgery. Lancet 1995;346:1445–1449.Google Scholar
23. Hermann, BP, Wyler, AR, Somes, G. Preoperative psychologicaladjustment and surgical outcome are determinants of psychosocial status after anterior temporal lobectomy. J NeurolNeurosurg Psychiatry 1992;55:491–496.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24. Rose, KJ, Derry, PA, Wiebe, S, McLachlan, RS. Determinants ofhealth-related quality of life after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Qual Life Res 1996;5:395–402.Google Scholar
25. Hermann, BP, Wyler, A, Somes, G. Emotional and psychosocial out-come of anterotemporal lobectomy. Epilepsia 1989;30:738–739.Google Scholar
26. Batzel, LW, Dodrill, CB, Ojemann, GA, et al. Psychological change isa function of seizure relief following resection surgery for epilepsy. Epilepsia 1991 32:30–31.Google Scholar
27. Hermann, BP, Wyler, AR, Somes, G. Preoperative psychologicaladjustment and surgical outcome are determinants of psychosocial status after anterior temporal lobectomy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1992;55(6):491–496.Google Scholar
28. Kellett, M, Smith, D, Baker, D, Chadwick, D. Quality of life afterepilepsy surgery. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1997;63:52–58.Google Scholar
29. Rose, KJ, Derry, PA, McLachlan, RS. Patient expectations andpostoperative depression, anxiety, and psychosocial adjustment after temporal lobectomy: a prospective study. Int J Beh Med 1995;2:27–40.Google Scholar
30. Pennebaker, JW, Kiecolt-Glaser, JK, Glaser, R. Disclosure of traumasand immune function: health implications for psychotherapy. J Consul Clin Psychol 1988;56:239–245.Google Scholar
31. Hermann, BP, Wyler, AR, Ackerman, B, Rosenthal, T. Short-termpsychological outcome of anterior temporal lobectomy. JNeurosurg 1989;71:327–334.Google Scholar
32. Vickrey, BG, Hays, RD, Hermann, BP, Bladin, P, Batzel, L. Outcomeswith respect to quality of life. In: Engel, J Jr, ed. Surgical Treatment of the Epilepsies, 2nd ed. New York: Raven Press, 1993; 623–635.Google Scholar
33. Mischel, W. Introduction to personality, 5th ed. Fort Worth: GuilfordPress, 1990.Google Scholar
34. Wiebe, S, Rose, KJ, Derry, PA, McLachlan, RS. Outcome assessmentin epilepsy: comparative responsiveness of quality of life and psychosocial instruments. Epilepsia 1997;38:430–438.Google Scholar
35. Derry, PA, Harnadek, MCS, McLachlan, RS, Sontrop, J. Influence ofseizure content on interpreting psychopathology on the MMPI-2 in patients with epilepsy. J Clin Exper Neuropsychol 1997;19:396–404.Google Scholar
36. Derry, PA, McLachlan, RS. The MMPI-2 as an adjunct to thediagnosis of pseudoseizures. Seizure 1996:5:35–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
37. Vickrey, BG, Hays, RD, Graber, J, et al. A health-related quality oflife instrument for patients evaluated for epilepsy surgery. Med Care 1992;30:299–319.Google Scholar
38. Perrine, KR A new quality of life inventory for epilepsy patients:interim results. Epilepsia 1993;34(S.4):S28-S33.Google Scholar
39. Radloff, LS, Lock, BZ. The community mental health assessmentsurvey and the CES-D Scale. In: Weissman, MM, Meyers, J, Ross, CE, eds. Epidemiological Community Surveys. New York:Prodist, 1983. Google Scholar
40. Spielberger, CD, Gorsuch, RL, Lushene, RE. Manual for the state-trait anxiety inventory (self-evaluation questionnaire). Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press, 1970.Google Scholar
41. Derogatis, LR, Lipman, RS, Covi, L. The SCL-90: an outpatientpsychiatric rating scale. Psychopharmacol Bull 1974;9:13–28.Google Scholar
42. Folkman, S, Lazarus, RS, Dunkel-Schetter, C, DeLongis, A, Gruen, RJ. Dynamics of a stressful encounter: cognitive appraisal, coping, and encounter outcomes. J Pers Soc Psychol 1986;50: 992–1003.Google Scholar
43. Dodrill, CB, Batzel, LW, Queisser, HR, Temkin, NR. An objectivemethod for the assessment of psychological and social problems among epileptics. Epilepsia 1980;21:123–135.Google Scholar
44. Moos, R, Moos, B. Family Environment Scale manual. Palo Alto:Consulting Psychologists Press, 1981.Google Scholar
45. Watson, D, Clark, L. On traits and temperament: general and specificfactors of emotional experience and their relation to the five-factor model. J Pers 1992;60:441–476.Google Scholar
46. Rose, KJ, Derry, PA, McLachlan, RS. Neuroticism in temporal lobeepilepsy: assessment and implications for pre-and postoperative psychosocial adjustment and health-related quality of life. Epilepsia 1996:37:484–491.Google Scholar
47. Derry, PA, McLachlan, RS. Causal attributions for seizures: relationto preoperative psychological adjustment and postoperative psychosocial function in temporal lobe epilepsy. J Epilepsy 1995;8:74–82.Google Scholar
48. Derry, PA, Rose, KJ, McLachlan, RS. Predicting depressionfollowing surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy: impact of preoperative emotional adjustment. Unpublished manuscript, University Hospital, 1997.Google Scholar
49. Hermann, BP, Trenerry, MR, Colligan, RC, et al. Learnedhelplessness, attributional style, and depression in epilepsy. Epilepsia 1996;37:680–686.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
50. McLachlan, RS, Dooley, J, Casbourn, H. Canadian Epilepsy Databaseand Registry. 2nd International Congress of Epilepsy, Dublin,1997.Google Scholar