[Psychosocial problems of epileptic children and their families].

Families of 156 children and adolescents in the age from 10 to 18 years were studied. Epilepsy was diagnosed in 118 patients; control group consisted of 38 subjects with cognitive and emotional dysfunction due to minimal-brain damage. Author used the standardized interview of parents and ill child. All children underwent psychiatric and neurologic examination. The laboratory tests which confirmed the diagnosis of epilepsy or the organic background of mental disturbances in control group without epilepsy, as well as psychological tests were done. On the basis of these investigations it was found that epilepsy in children had the influence on child's and its family functioning. Such influence was more pronounced among children who fail to remain seizure-free after therapy, and in whom seizures were accompanied by chronic mental disorders. The vicious circle mechanism was found in several cases. The child's disorder caused negative reaction of family members, which in turn unfavourably influenced child's functioning and behaviour. According to the author these statements are of great importance for psycho-sociotherapy.