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Abstract:

Introduction. Prior research has shown that young adults with refractory epilepsy are at risk for poorer psychosocial and health-related outcomes. However, large inter-individual differences have been observed in how patients cope with their epilepsy. To gain more insight into these differences, the present study examined the role of personality. More specifically, we examined mean-level differences in Big Five personality traits between young adults with and without refractory epilepsy and related these traits to patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods. A total of 121 18-40 year old patients with refractory epilepsy (56% women) completed self-report questionnaires assessing the Big Five personality traits, HRQOL, and seizure frequency and severity. Patients’ Big Five scores were compared to those of a community sample matched on sex and age using paired samples t-tests. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to assess the predictive value of personality for HRQOL, after controlling for the effects of sex, age, seizure frequency and severity, age at diagnosis, and medication side-effects. Results. Patients reported higher levels of neuroticism and agreeableness, and lower levels of openness as compared to controls. Demographic and epilepsy-related variables that were linked to patients’ personality were sex, age at diagnosis, and seizure severity. Substantial associations were observed between patients’ personality traits and their HRQOL, with neuroticism being the strongest and most consistent predictor. Conclusion. In the present study, we found that personality traits were important predictors of how well patients adjusted to their epilepsy, pointing to the importance of assessing patients’ personality during routine medical care.