PURPOSE: to check how parents realize the quality of life of their epileptic children and if the relationship is controlled by their beliefs about epilepsy. METHOD: it has been applied 21 protocols of "Simplified inventory of quality of life in childhood epilepsy" to parents of children aged between 6-14 years old with benign childhood epilepsy. RESULTS: it was observed that 86% of parents evaluated their children's quality of life as very good, but reported difficulties to deal with them. Behaviors of overprotection (62%) and feelings of worry, fear and insecurity (90%) were observed. The children were evaluated as irritated (52%), dependents (38%), overwroughts and inquiets (38%). About school, 33% are in special schools and have difficulties of academic and relationship. CONCLUSION: it was verified a lot of beliefs and acknowledgement seem to control parent's behavior on the way of dealing with epileptic children producing inadequate behaviors, in spite of realizing the quality of life of their children as been very good.
childhood epilepsy; quality of life; parents-child relationship