Depression and quality of life in patients with epilepsy in Northwest Greece

Eleftheria Siarava; Thomas Hyphantis; Aristeidis H Katsanos; Sygkliti-Henrietta Pelidou; Athanassios P Kyritsis; Sofia Markoula

doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2019.02.012

Depression and quality of life in patients with epilepsy in Northwest Greece

Seizure. 2019 Mar:66:93-98. doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2019.02.012. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Authors

Eleftheria Siarava¹, Thomas Hyphantis², Aristeidis H Katsanos³, Sygkliti-Henrietta Pelidou⁴, Athanassios P Kyritsis⁵, Sofia Markoula⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, University of Ioannina, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. Electronic address: esiarav@cc.uoi.gr.
² Department of Psychiatry, University of Ioannina, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. Electronic address: thomashyphantis@outlook.com.
³ Department of Neurology, University of Ioannina, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. Electronic address: arkatsanos@cc.uoi.gr.
⁴ Department of Neurology, University of Ioannina, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. Electronic address: epelidou@cc.uoi.gr.
⁵ Department of Neurology, University of Ioannina, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. Electronic address: thkyrits@uoi.gr.
⁶ Department of Neurology, University of Ioannina, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece. Electronic address: smarkoula@grads.uoi.gr.

PMID: 30818183
DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2019.02.012

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to compare depression and QoL between patients with epilepsy and healthy controls, evaluating potentially related factors to depression and QoL in patients with epilepsy in Northwest Greece.

Methods: A case study was conducted in adult patients with epilepsy followed up at the University Hospital of Ioannina and in healthy controls. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression's severity evaluation, the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire for the QoL estimation and the Adverse Event Profile (AEP) questionnaire for the Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) adverse effects assessment were used.

Results: Seventy patients with epilepsy and 70 controls were recruited. The PHQ-9 score was higher in patients compared to controls and slightly higher than reported in patients with epilepsy. PHQ-9 was significantly associated with the AEP score. Our patients had a poorer QoL compared to controls. The level of education, the AEP and the PHQ-9 scores were associated to QoL, the last two being the most powerful predictors of QoL.

Conclusion: Patients with epilepsy in Northwest Greece had higher rates of depression than reported in patients with epilepsy and poorer QoL compared to controls. The adverse effects of AEDs were related to depression in our study, while the adverse effects of AEDs and depression were more powerful predictors of QoL compared to demographics and other characteristics of epilepsy.

Keywords: AEDs adverse effects; Depression; Epilepsy; Quality of life.

MeSH terms

Adult
Anticonvulsants
Depression / epidemiology*
Depression / etiology
Epilepsy* / complications
Epilepsy* / drug therapy
Epilepsy* / epidemiology
Epilepsy* / psychology
Female
Greece / epidemiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Quality of Life / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult

Substances

Anticonvulsants