Research Article
Maria Helena Brandalise, Ge
Abstract
Seizure recurrence after cortico-amygdalohippocampectomy (CAH) in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy and mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE-MTS) is a potentially serious event, which can compromise their medical treatment and quality of life. However, any purpose of intervention among these patients should be based on specific parameters, and among them their levels of resilience to stressful events. The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of resilience in patients with refractory TLE-MTS submitted to CAH who presented late seizure recurrence after surgery through a structured instrument (Quest_Resiliencia), as well as to measure the possible negative impact of anxiety and depressive symptoms to the presence of resilience levels to stressful events. Methods: Sixty patients with age between 18 and 65 years, followed-up at the Outpatient Clinic of epilepsies of Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, with clinical and electrographic diagnoses of TLE-TMS, who had been submitted to CAH and presented seizure recurrence at the time of the study were included. The instruments included a clinical and socio-demographic questionnaire, Quest_Resiliencia, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: Satisfactory levels of resilience to stressful events were observed, suggesting that these patients may benefit from stress-coping interventions. However, significant negative correlation of anxiety (p<0.01) and depressive (p<0.01) symptoms were observed. Since there is a research gap in literature on studies that aimed to verify the resilience levels in patients with TLE-MTS, studies that may support the development of resilience resources are thus necessary.