A Systematic Review of Self-Concept in Adolescents With Epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: To critically assess the research quality of studies examining self-concept in adolescents with epilepsy (AWE) and, based on the evidence of these studies, to determine whether AWE have compromised self-concept, to identify correlates of self-concept, and to evaluate interventions aimed at improving self-concept. METHOD: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for relevant publications. The modified Quality Index was used to evaluate study quality. RESULTS: 20 studies were reviewed and 8 studies were included in a meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in self-concept between AWE versus healthy control subjects. Self-concept was associated with a number of sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral variables. CONCLUSION: The limited number and modest quality of the studies available for review suggest that the negative findings should be interpreted with caution. In addition to addressing the limitations of existing studies, future research should focus on exploring the potential role of self-concept in the development of mental health problems in AWE.