Thesis advisor: Judith Vessey / The objective of this study was to describe the parental perspective of caring for a child with intractable epilepsy. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to describe the caregiver transitions from caring for a healthy child to caring for a child with intractable epilepsy, and (2) to study families that provide caregiving, to identify the challenges, and learn how they address the intricacies and nuances of caring for a child with intractable epilepsy. The specific research questions that guide this study were: (1) What do parents of children with epilepsy find helpful or challenging during transitions from caring for a healthy child to a child with intractable epilepsy? (3) What factors enable parents to transition from caring for a healthy child to a child with intractable epilepsy? The research design used qualitative descriptive design and was based on naturalistic inquiry. This methodology was used to describe parental experiences using their own words and not interpret these experiences. Research participants were recruited from a Level 4 National Association of Epilepsy Center at a Children's Hospital in the Northeast. A purposive sample of twelve parental caregivers participated. Themes that emerged from the interviews included (1) Journey to Diagnosis, Connecting the Dots, (2) Drunken Sailor, Medication Management, (3)Negotiating and Advocacy for Education (4) Provider Challenges, Communication and Parenting and (5) It Takes a Village: Sibling, Family Members and Friends. Nurses play a significant role in education, advocating, and guiding families through the initial diagnosis to dealing with activities of daily living and future planning. This research study serves as a foundation for future intervention studies regarding how best to support parents of children with intractable epilepsy. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1990. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [136]-145).

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of a clinical intervention program for reduction of pain and concomitant symptoms of anxiety, depression and hostility in individuals experiencing chronic pain. The program consisted of 36 weeks of supportive group therapy, education and sessions of progressive muscle relaxation induced hypnosis. Single subject research design was used to analyze the clinical effectiveness of treatment. Data was collected and compiled weekly. Serial position curves were generated for a Reported Pain Index, SCL-90-R Symptom Indices for Anxiety, Depression, Hostility and the SCL-90-R Global Severity Index. The three subjects were adults whose ages ranged from 39 to 65, with five or more years of chronic pain due to orthopedic or arthritic conditions. Qualitative analysis of the data indicated dramatic reductions in pain and secondary symptoms. Reductions in reported pain ranged from 17% to 31% with the mean pain reduction for the group of 20.6%. Reduction in the SCL-90-R Global Severity Index ranged from 13.1% to 49.4% with the mean reduction for the group of 36.1%. Reduction in depression ranged from 12.7% to 50% with the mean reduction for the group of 32.6%. Anxiety was reduced for two subjects with a slight increase of .02% for the third subject. Range of anxiety change was .02% increase to 59% reduction with a group mean reduction of 36.3%. Reduction in hostility ranged from 29.5% to 54.4% with a group mean reduction of 39.9%. Progressive muscle relaxation induced hypnosis contributed to further reduction of pain and secondary symptoms with reductions ranging from 4 to 49%. The results of this study show dramatic reductions in pain, depression, hostility and anxiety in chronic pain patients. These findings are not meant to be generalized to other populations, but may point the way for future research utilizing long-term therapeutic approaches and single subject research design.

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This study addresses the problem of assessment of chronic pain patients, a population with special needs which have only begun to be recognized by the medical community. While this paper promotes a comprehensive approach to assessment and treatment of chronic pain patients, the research questions in this study specifically address assessment of personality and its relationship to other biopsychosocial variables.The purpose of the study was to replicate cluster analyses done with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) in chronic pain patient populations using the revised and re-nonmed Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), and. secondly, to identify other variables which are associated with particular personality profile patterns in chronic pain patients.This study examines the archival records of approximately 300 male and female, chronic pain patients who were seen at a hospital-based, multidisciplinary, outpatient pain management clinic from 1989 to 1992. Information analyzed includes The (MMPI), and the Patient Assessment Inventory and Narrative (PAIN), an instrument used at the pain clinic, designed to collect demographic, social, and vocational information, medical history, and cognitive, emotional, and sensory-perceptual characteristics of the patient's pain experience.The data from the MM PI-2 scales was cluster analyzed, yielding three homogeneous profile subgroups for both male and female samples, as well as the full sample. These groups corresponded closely to those found in earlier MMPI research with chronic pain patients. A discriminant analysis was used to examine which combinations of other biopsychosocial variables best explained the differences between each of the groups of patients derived in the cluster analysis. Results indicate that a combination of "negative life-impact" variables most significantly distinguished between the derived groups. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Tukey's HSD procedure revealed how each group differed-on the "negative life-impact" spectrum, with more elevated MMPI-2 profiles showing greater negative life-impact and less elevated profiles showing less negative life-impact. Implications and limitations of the study, as well as recommendations for future research are discussed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Thesis (MPsych(Clin))--University of South Australia, 1999

No description available.

Hemispherectomy has gained widespread endorsement as a useful technique for treating seizures in patients with cerebral hemispheric dysfunction. Following this procedure, most patients experience seizure-freedom or a substantial decrease in the number of seizures occurring. Regarding other areas of functioning, patients generally maintain the same level of intelligence, language abilities, motor functioning, and visual ability, and experience improvements in behavioral disturbances and social skills. However, the current outcome literature lacks information regarding the effect of hemispherectomy on executive function. The purpose of this study is to evaluate executive function in pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy following a hemispherectomy. The parents of children who had undergone this surgical intervention completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF; Gioia, Isquith, Guy, and Kenworthy, 2002) and their children's scores were compared to those of children with epilepsy treated with anticonvulsant medications (AEDs) only. The impact of clinical variables (i.e. age at time of surgery, lateralization of hemispherectomy, and amount of time since surgery) on BRIEF scores were also examined. Results indicated that children undergoing a hemispherectomy produced lower scores (less impaired) on several of the BRIEF scales as compared to those taking AEDs only. The left and right hemispherectomy group differed only on a subscale measuring behavioral inhibition, with the right hemispherectomy group producing a higher mean (meaning more impairment). Several BRIEF scores in the aggregate hemispherectomy group were positively correlated with time since surgery, such that longer post-operative periods were associated with poorer performances on the BRIEF. Several BRIEF measures were negatively correlated with age at time of surgery, suggesting that younger patients fared worse on the BRIEF than older patients.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin - Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-80).