The effect of epilepsy on emotional state in Hamilton and Beck questionnaire studies

Patients with epilepsy present higher rate of psychological and psychiatric problems and emotional disturbances are estimated as the most frequent ones with prevalence of depression about tree times higher than it was observed in general population. In the presented study the occurrence of depressive symptoms was compared in a total of 60 adult patients with newly recognized and chronic epilepsy during remission of illness as well as pharmacoresistant. 21-items Hamilton Depressive Scale and Beck Depressive Inventory were applied once in each testified patient, consecutively by a physician or a patient himself during interictal period. Our study has found a higher level of depressive signs in newly diagnosed than in chronic patients during remission of illness but also in patients with an active process. The scoring rates both on HDRS and BDI were respectively characteristic of moderate or mild intensity of depressive disturbances. This comparison allows us to make a suggestion that diagnosis of epilepsy with its well-known stigmatization and limitations of different life activities may act as a stressing factor that enhances anxiety and depressive reactions in early phase of illness.