High Frequency of Depressive Symptoms among Adults with Epilepsy: Results from a Hospital-based Study

Assessment of comorbid burden of depression and associated factors among adult people living with epilepsy (PWE) has the potential to inform clinical evaluation and management to improve outcomes.

The aim of this study is to determine frequency of depressive symptoms and factors associated with it among PWE attending a tertiary care hospital.

This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in the outpatient clinic of a tertiary care center.

One hundred and fifty patients with epilepsy were recruited between May 2016 and August 2016. For assessing depression, Tamil validated version of Patient Health Questionnaire-12 was used. Frequency of depression and its association with various sociodemographic and clinical factors were assessed.

Student t-test and Chi-square test for univariate analysis and logistic regression for multivariate analysis were used for statistical analysis.

Of the 150 subjects, 89 (59.3%) were males. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were present in 131 people (87.3%). Genetic and unknown epilepsies contributed higher proportion (44.7%) as compared to structural epilepsies (37.3%). Majority (88%) were on one or two antiepileptic drugs. Thirty-one people (20.3%) had less than one seizure per year. Depressive symptoms were present in 95 patients (63.3%). In multivariate regression analysis, secondary generalized seizures and seizure frequency >1/month emerged as significant predictors of depression ([OR]: 5.48 [95% (CI): 1.35-22.28] and OR: 2.53 [95% CI: 1.11-5.75], respectively).

Depression is prevalent in a majority of adult PWE. Hence, a routine screening for depression as part of comprehensive epilepsy care is advisable for PWE attending the outpatient clinic.