Is the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory-Epilepsy for Youth (NDDI-E-Y) more sensitive than a neurologist? A quality improvement project

Laurie A Brenner; Brooke R Henry; Jaclyn A Shepard; David N Martin; Howard P Goodkin

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106913

Is the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory-Epilepsy for Youth (NDDI-E-Y) more sensitive than a neurologist? A quality improvement project

Epilepsy Behav. 2020 Mar;104(Pt A):106913. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106913. Epub 2020 Feb 6.

Authors

Laurie A Brenner¹, Brooke R Henry², Jaclyn A Shepard³, David N Martin⁴, Howard P Goodkin⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. Electronic address: lb3sj@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.
² Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
³ Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
⁴ Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
⁵ Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

PMID: 32036241
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106913

Abstract

Purpose: Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy. This quality improvement project compared a standardized rating scale, the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory-Epilepsy for Youth (NDDI-E-Y), with physician opinion to see if it improved sensitivity to depressive symptoms.

Results: A convenience sample of thirty adolescents with epilepsy ages 12-17 (mean [M] = 15.02, standard deviation [SD] = 1.81; 53% female) participated in the screening. Thirteen percent of the sample scored in the Elevated range on the NDDI-E-Y (exceeded cutoff). Seven percent of the sample were rated by the physician as definitely showing signs of depression. There were two false negatives when the NDDI-E-Y score exceeded the established cutoff, but physician rating was negative for depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: This pilot project shows that the NDDI-E-Y is a convenient clinical tool with the potential to improve sensitivity in the detection of depressive symptoms in adolescents with epilepsy.

Keywords: Adolescent; Depression; Epilepsy; Mental health screening.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Depression / diagnosis*
Depression / psychology
Epilepsy / diagnosis*
Epilepsy / psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Neurologists / standards*
Pilot Projects
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / standards*
Quality Improvement / standards*