Assessing vocational interests of those with epilepsy.

Assessed the vocational interests of 47 male and 24 female (post-high-school aged) hospital-affiliated outpatients with epilepsy, utilizing 9 scales from the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory. The scales included 6 general occupational theme scales (i.e., Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional), 2 special scales (i.e., Academic Orientation and occupational Introversion–Extroversion), and 1 basic interest scale (i.e., Adventure). Ss' scores were compared to those of the Strong-Campbell (1974) normative groups. Results show that the vocational interest scores of epileptics on the 6 occupational theme scales and 3 additional scales were not greatly different from those of the norm groups. When differences did occur, it appeared that males with epilepsy were affected: Males with major motor seizures and early seizure onset had lower Investigative scores, and males with major motor seizure had lower Academic Orientation scores, than did the nondisabled. These more impaired males appear at risk for restricted interests and may profit from supportive interventions that increase their range of life activity. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)