Summary:Our study investigated public attitudes toward epilepsy, and knowledge and understanding of epilepsy in Hungary. We compared changes of public attitudes in the last six years, hypothesizing a trend of positive changes because of recent national initiatives for acceptance and integration of people with epilepsy (e.g., participation of Hungary in the "Out of the Shadows" world campaign). We also studied how the demographic background of the respondents affects awareness, understanding, and attitudes toward epilepsy. Using a questionnaire design, we conducted a public opinion poll with a representative sample of 1,000 people in 1994 and 6 years later, in 2000. Hungarian respondents were most prejudiced regarding employment of people with epilepsy. In recent years, significant decreases in prejudice rates were found regarding all attitude aspects (marriage, children associating, work). Significant background effects of demographic variables were also apparent: differences by age, education, residence, and family status were found. Some culture-specific characteristics of understanding epilepsy could be observed. Significant positive attitude changes from 1994 to 2000 confirm the need for and potentialities of education of the public and informational initiatives. Demographic influences and culture-specific characteristics could be of relevance in designing public education for different target groups.

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Serotonin-1A (5-HT(1A)) receptors are known to play a role in impulsivity-related behavior. The C(-1019)G functional polymorphism (rs6295) has been suggested to regulate the 5-HT(1A) receptor gene (HTR(1A)) expression in presynaptic raphe neurons, namely, increased receptor concentration and reduced neuronal firing could be associated with the G allele. Previous studies indicate that this polymorphism is associated with aggression, suicide, and several psychiatric disorders, yet its association with impulsivity has rarely been investigated. We studied the relationship between impulsivity and the C(-1019)G polymorphism of the HTR(1A) in a population sample of 725 volunteers using the Impulsiveness subscale (IVE-I) of the Eysenck Impulsiveness, Venturesomeness, and Empathy scale and also the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance with age and gender as covariates and Tukey's HSD post-hoc test. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the study had 0.958 power to detect 0.15 effect size. Significant differences between the C(-1019)G genotype groups (GG vs. GC vs. CC) were found. Subjects carrying GG genotype showed significantly higher impulsiveness scores compared to GC or CC carriers for the IVE-I scale (P = 0.014), for the Motor (P = 0.021), Cognitive Impulsiveness (P = 0.002), and for the BIS total score (P = 0.008) but not for the Nonplanning Impulsiveness (P = 0.520) subscale of the BIS-11. Our results suggest the involvement of the HTR(1A) in the continuum phenotype of impulsivity.

Background: Despite the increasing popularity of videogame playing, little is known about the similarities and differences between online and offline videogame players.However, the characteristics of online and offline gaming might predispose different pattern of problematic use. Objectives: The aims of this study were to (i) test applicability and the measurement invariance of the previously developed Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire (POGQ) in both online and offline gamers; and (ii) examine the differences between online and offline gamers in the dimensions of problematic use. Methods: A total of 1,964 adolescent videogame players were recruited. Information on videogame use habits were collected and all gamers were administered the POGQ. Those gamers who played at least sometimes in an online context were considered as "online gamers" and "offline gamers" were those who played videogames exclusively offline. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the measurement invariance across online and offline videogame players. According to the multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model, online gamers were more likely to score higher on overuse, interpersonal conflict, and social isolation subscales of the POGQ. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that online and offline gaming can be assessed using the same psychometric instrument. These findings open the possibility for future research studies concerning problematic video game to include participants who exclusively play either online or offline games, or both.2 However, the study also identified important structural features about how online and offline gaming might contribute differently to problematic use. These results provide important information and ideas that could be utilized in parental education and prevention program about the possible detrimental consequences of online vs. offline video game use.

Our study investigated interrelationships between problems in psychosocial adjustment, coping and epilepsy variables. Establishing the cross-cultural applicability of the Washington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory (WPSI) was an additional objective. The WPSI, Ways of Coping Scale, Modified Version, as well as scales measuring depression and anxiety were administered to 310 outpatients with epilepsy. When the scores of patients with high Lie scores were eliminated, the WPSI profiles were found to be similar to former studies, with some score elevations in emotional adjustment and interpersonal adjustment. When relationships between adjustment variables and coping were modelled, coping was found to be a mediator between the effects of interpersonal and emotional adjustment and integration to the broader social context (vocational adjustment). Family background was found to be a significant predictor of the emotional well-being and interpersonal adjustment scores of the patients. Results support the central role of coping and emotional well-being and emphasize the importance of family factors in adjustment to epilepsy. Psychotherapy and psychological interventions could support coping with illness, primarily through elimination of negative family and social effects and treatment of emotional problems.