Determinants of depression and anxiety in patients with refractory epilepsy and cognitive problems

Abstract

800x600 Background and Purpose: Few studies of psychopathology in patients with cognitive problems and refractory epilepsy (RE) have been performed . We aimed to assess depression, anxiety, and their determining factors in Bulgarian patients with RE and cognitive problems. Method s: We conduct ed a study based on questionnaires designed for people with intellectual disability (stigma scale, Glasgow Depression Scale, Glasgow Anxiety Scale) and a purposeful interview on clinical and social factors of 6 4 patients with RE and cognitive problems . Results : We found depression in 40.63% and anxiety in 71.43% of study participants. Depression correlated with female gender P < 0.01 ( c 2 = 6.48), seizure type P < 0.05 ( c 2 = 7.68), seizure severity P < 0.05 ( c 2 = 9.04), educational level P < 0.05 ( c 2 = 3.86), and stigma P < 0.01 ( c 2 = 12.57). Seizure severity, gender, stigma, and educational level proved to be predictors of depression on multivariate regression analysis P < 0.001 (F = 12.08). Anxiety correlated with seizure severity P < 0.05 ( c 2 = 8.65), focal neurological deficit P < 0.05 ( c 2 = 5.91), stigma P < 0.05 ( c 2 = 7.01), and depression P < 0.05 ( c 2 = 5.31). Seizure severity and focal neurological deficit were the only predictors of anxiety on multivariate regression analysis P < 0.001 (F = 6.35). Conclusions : W e have affirmed frequent anxiety and depression in patients with RE and cognitive problems and their clinical, social, and demographic determinants. The results from our study prove the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach to these patients. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}