ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to investigate the effects of epilepsy surgery on physical functioning, emotional status and health-related quality of life in patients with epilepsy. Thirty four participants were evaluated in this study. Group I consisted of 17 consecutive patients who underwent epilepsy surgery. Group II included 17 healthy controls. While each patient was evaluated three times: before surgery, after surgery [6th month], and at the end of the first year after surgery, the controls were evaluated just one time. The Nottingham Health Profile [NHP] was used to assess quality of life. Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] was applied to detect depressive symptoms. A 12- meter Walking Test [mobility] and the Barthel Index [Daily Living Activities] were used to evaluate physical functions. The results showed that the patients' quality of life and their mobility improved after surgery [p<0.05]. Most of the patients reported decreased depressive symptoms after surgery [p<0.001]. No significant differences in terms of daily living activities were found. The results of this study also showed that the BDI scores were highly correlated with NHP scores [p<0.05]. At 6th month after surgery, although the patients' scores in terms of all outcomes measurements were worst compared to the controls, the scores of the two groups were more or less similar after one year [p>0.05]. Epilepsy surgery is an effective treatment improving physical functioning and QOL, and supporting emotional status of the patients with epilepsy, positively
ABSTRACT
To investigate the relationship between physical functioning, non-physical functioning, and upper extremity functional abilities in patients with multiple sclerosis [MS] and healthy subjects. A total of 63 patients with MS [Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score; 3-8] and 52 healthy subjects attending the Pamukkale University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Denizli, Turkey were studied in the period from February 2006 to June 2006. To allow further evaluation, 63 individuals with MS were divided into 2 groups according to their ambulation ability level. The physical functioning was assessed with the Functional Independence Measure [FIM], the Purdue Pegboard Test, and the Jebsen Hand Function Test, and the non-physical functioning was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]. Depressive symptoms were significantly elevated in the MS group versus the control group based on the BDI [p<0.0001]. In MS subjects, while there was good positive correlation between EDSS and BDI scores, there was a good negative correlation between EDSS and FIM scores [p<0.0001]. Non-physical functioning, especially depression, is strongly associated with activities of daily living and decreases functional abilities in MS patients. For this reason, we recommend that non-physical functioning should also be evaluated in patients with MS to plan the most suitable physical therapy program