Correlates of Psychosis Among Patients with Seizure Disorders in a Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

Psychosis may complicate epilepsy. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Psychosis among patients with epilepsy and to examine its socio-demographic and clinical correlates. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study that involved the use of General Health Questionnaire, version 28(GHQ-28) and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), which were used to investigate each of the 400 consecutive participants. The diagnosis of epilepsy was based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria and all participants with Psychosis were diagnosed using CIDI. A proforma Questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic and clinical variables among the participants. Logistic regression was done to determine the predictors of psychosis. Thirty-two participants (8%) were diagnosed as having psychosis. Unemployment and GHQ caseness were predictors of Psychosis among the participants (p=0.038, p=<0.001 respectively). The study showed the existence of Psychosis among patients with seizure disorder. This is an important association with seizure disorders which has implications on the course of the disorder. The assessment of these patients for this co-morbidity and identification of the factors that leads to unemployment among people with seizure disorder will enhance treatment outcome.