Author: Sana Masood
Supervisor: Dr. Rafia Rafique
Degree: MPhil
Year: (2009 – 2011)
University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The present study was conducted to find out gender differences in neuropsychological functioning between male and female epileptic patients. It was hypothesized that neuropsychological functioning will be different in male and female epileptic patients. It was also hypothesized that there is significant differences between male and female epileptic patients on neuropsychological functioning i.e. depression, somatic complaints, memory, communication, aggression and motor impairment. It was further hypothesized that there is significant difference in neuropsychological functioning with regard to duration of illness. It was additionally hypothesized that there are significant differences in neuropsychological functioning among patients diagnosed with different types of epilepsy namely, grand mal, petit mal, complex partial and generalized tonic colonic. The sample (n = 60) was recruited from different hospitals of Lahore, through purposive sampling technique. To assess neuropsychological functioning, Neurobehavioral Functioning Inventory (NFI), (Kreutzer, Seel, & Marwitz, 1999) was used. T-test was used to compare gender differences and ANOVA was carried out to find significant differences in neuropsychological functioning regarding duration of illness and also to find difference in neuropsychological functioning among different types of epilepsy. Results showed there was a significant difference in neuropsychological functioning between male and female epileptic patients on somatic complaints. Females were found to reveal greater somatic complaints. Results showed there were no differences in neuropsychological functioning between male and female epileptic patients on scales of depression, memory, communication, aggression and motor impairment. Findings also revealed there is significant difference in neuropsychological functioning among patients diagnosed with different types of epilepsy. The study holds implications for the implementation of gender based interventions as well as it lays ground for future researchers.
Keywords: epilepsy, depression, memory, neuropsychological functioning.
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Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
