Turkish
Home Page
Online Submission
Recent Issue
Archive
About
Instructions for Authors
Articles in Press
Editorial Board
Contact
Keyword
Title
Summary
Childhood Traumas, Attachment and Alexithymia in Adolescentswith Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizure Type of Conversion Disorder
Özlem UZUN, Devrim AKDEMİR, Meral TOPÇU, Berna ÖZSUNGUR
2019 30(2): 109-117
[Back]
[Full Text (PDF)]
[E-Mail to Author]
Objective: In this cross-sectional study, childhood traumas, attachment
security and alexithymia in adolescents with psychogenic nonepileptic
seizures (PNES) were compared with those of adolescents without any
psychiatric disorder using both semi-structured clinical interviews and
self-report scales.
Method: This study included 42 adolescents with PNES aged between
12-18 and 38 healthy adolescents who were matched with the study
group in respect to socio-demographic variables. All adolescents
and their parents were interviewed using Schedule for Affective
Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and
Lifetime Version in order to evaluate psychiatric disorders. Clinician-
Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Scale for Children
and Adolescents was used to examine the presence of PTSD symptoms.
All adolescents completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-28,
Short Form of Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, Toronto
Alexithymia Scale and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale.
Results: Adolescents with PNES had more emotional and sexual
traumatic experiences and PTSD symptoms compared to the control
group. PNES group perceived higher “communication” but lower
“trust” in attachment relationships with their mothers and fathers.
Higher alexithymia and lower self-esteem were determined in the PNES
group. Childhood traumas, lifetime PTSD symptoms and alexithymia
were found to be significant risk factors for PNES in adolescents.
Conclusion: Results indicate that comorbid psychiatric disorders,
traumatic experiences, attachment problems and alexithymia need to be
evaluated and treated in adolescents with PNES.
