Browsing by Author "Gucuyener, Kivilcim"

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Evaluation of state and trait anxiety levels of parents and children before electroencephalography procedures: A prospective study from a tertiary epilepsy center
    (2020) Tekin, Leman Orgun; Cebeci, Dilek; Unver, Elif; Acar, A. Sebnem Soysal; Demir, Ercan; Gucuyener, Kivilcim; Dikmen, Asiye Ugrac; Serdaroglu, Ayse; Arhan, Ebru; 0000-0002-6533-8358; 32846305; AAJ-8714-2021
    Background: Inadequate or misinformation about electroencephalography (EEG) and epilepsy may lead to anxiety in children and their parents. The purpose of this study was to make a simultaneous evaluation of the anxiety levels of children and parents before EEG procedures and to make a brief assessment of their knowledge about EEG. Methods and materials: Children aged between 8 and 18 years who were referred for EEG tests at Department of Pediatric Neurology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine. Ankara. Turkey and their parents were induded in the study, prospectively. Data were collected through Personal Information Forms; an EEG questionnaire form, which questioned the knowledge of the participants about EEG; the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to determine anxiety levels of the parents; and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children-State form (STAIC) to determine the anxiety levels of the children. The following parameters were collected in a database: demographic data about children and parents (sex, age), indication of suspected diagnosis on EEG request (i.e., the referral diagnosis), history of epilepsy, number of EEG recordings, and results of previous EEG recordings. The state and trait anxiety test results of the children were compared between the girls and boys, between age groups, and their parents' results in terms of both trait and state anxiety in terms of EEG, sex, ages, educational levels, and working. Results: Eighty-live children (mean age: 13.25 +/- 3.02 years) and 85 parents (mean age: 41.16 +/- 7.65 years) were included in the study. The children's mean trait anxiety score was 32.51 +/- 8.09, and the mean state anxiety score was 34.97 +/- 7.62. Half of the children who had a trait anxiety score of <= 30 points had increased state anxiety levels because they received more than 30 points in the state anxiety evaluation score. No significant differences were found between the boys and girls in terms of the state and trait anxiety scores (p > 0.05). The parents' mean trait anxiety score was 39.16 +/- 7.74, and the mean state anxiety score was 42.74 +/- 6.22. Forty (47%) parents were found to have trait anxiety, and 52 (61.2%) parents had state anxiety before the EEG. The trait anxiety score of the mothers was statistically significantly higher than that of the fathers (p < 0.01). The investigation of the knowledge level of both parents and children about EEG demonstrated some misunderstandings or points of insufficiency. Conclusion: The present study revealed that both parents and children had insufficient knowledge about EEG, and the procedure caused anxiety for both the parents and children. When EEG procedures are requested, parents and children should be given brief information about EEG and epilepsy. We think that in this way, the knowledge of both parents and children about this issue may be increased and their anxiety may be decreased. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Re-examining the characteristics of pediatric multiple sclerosis in the era of antibody-associated demyelinating syndromes
    (2022) Yilmaz, Unsal; Gucuyener, Kivilcim; Yavuz, Merve; Oncel, Ibrahim; Canpolat, Mehmet; Saltik, Sema; Unver, Olcay; Kurt, Aysegul Nese Citak; Tosun, Ayse; Yilmaz, Sanem; Ozgor, Bilge; Erol, Ilknur; Oztoprak, Ulkuhan; Elitez, Duygu Aykol; Direk, Meltem Cobanogullari; Bodur, Muhittin; Teber, Serap; Anlar, Banu; 36137476
    Background: The discovery of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-IgG and anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG and the observation on certain patients previously diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) actually have an antibody-mediated disease mandated re-evaluation of pediatric MS series. Aim: To describe the characteristics of recent pediatric MS cases by age groups and compare with the cohort established before 2015. Method: Data of pediatric MS patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021 were collected from 44 pediatric neurology centers across Turkiye. Clinical and paraclinical features were compared between patients with dis-ease onset before 12 years (earlier onset) and >= 12 years (later onset) as well as between our current (2015-2021) and previous (< 2015) cohorts. Results: A total of 634 children (456 girls) were enrolled, 89 (14%) were of earlier onset. The earlier-onset group had lower female/male ratio, more frequent initial diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), more frequent brainstem symptoms, longer interval between the first two attacks, less frequent spinal cord involvement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lower prevalence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-restricted oligoclonal bands (OCBs). The earlier-onset group was less likely to respond to initial disease-modifying treatments. Compared to our previous cohort, the current series had fewer patients with onset < 12 years, initial presentation with ADEM-like features, brainstem or cerebellar symptoms, seizures, and spinal lesions on MRI. The female/male ratio, the frequency of sensorial symptoms, and CSF-restricted OCBs were higher than reported in our previous cohort. Conclusion: Pediatric MS starting before 12 years was less common than reported previously, likely due to exclusion of patients with antibody-mediated diseases. The results underline the importance of antibody testing and indicate pediatric MS may be a more homogeneous disorder and more similar to adult-onset MS than previously thought.