A STUDY OF SEIZURE RELATED VARIABLES IN EPILEPTIC PATIENTS WITH ANXIETY

Abstract

BackgroundPsychiatric illness especially
mood disorders(eg. depression,anxiety)
are a common comorbidity in epilepsy.
Like depression, anxiety also exerts a
profound negative effect on healthrelated
quality of life in epileptic patients.
Several issues, however, pertaining to
their association with psychosocial, seizure-
related and medication factors, remain
controversial. Accordingly, the present
study was designed to investigate
the association of interictal anxiety disorder
with various demographic and seizure-
related variables in patients with
newly-diagnosed and chronic epilepsy.
ObjectivesTo study anxiety, in association
with demographic and seizure
related variables in epileptic patients.
MethodsWe investigated 50 patients
suffering from epilepsy, at Madras
Institute of Neurology during the period
from 1.1.2011 to 31.3.2011.The study
included the patients, both in epilepsy
clinic(OP) and in neurologywards
(IP).Anxiety was assessed in the
interictal state with the Hamilton anxiety
rating scale(HAMA),which consists of 14
item questionnaire. The association of
anxiety disorders with various variables
was investigated with simple and multiple
linear regression analyses.ResultsHigh seizure
frequency ,female gender,duration
from onset were determinants of anxiety.
85.7 of female patients had anxiety as
compared to 72.7 in males.84.6 of the inpatients
(who have high seizure frequency,
focal symptomatic seizures) had
anxiety, especially severe grading in HAMA
rating score. ConclusionOur results confirm
the prevailing view, that anxiety is a common
psychological disorder in epileptics. It
is additionally concluded that, female gender,
high seizure frequency,new onset focal
symptomatic seizures are independent
risk factors for the development of anxiety .