Assessment of the Frequency of Depressive Symptoms in Epileptic Children (Single Center Study)
Nageh Shehata1, Salah Mahmoud Saleh1, Ahmed M Kamal2
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Minya University, El Minya, 61111, Egypt.
Insights
Depressive symptoms are common in children with epilepsy, affecting 37.5% of those studied. Early screening and comprehensive care are crucial for improving the quality of life for these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Child Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in children.
- Depression is a frequent psychiatric comorbidity in pediatric epilepsy.
- Understanding the prevalence and correlates of depression in epileptic children is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the frequency of depressive symptoms in children with idiopathic epilepsy.
- To investigate the association between depressive symptoms and demographic/seizure-related variables.
- To assess the impact of depression on quality of life in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study of 80 children (6-13 years) with idiopathic epilepsy.
- Utilized the Structured Birleson Depression Scale Questionnaire for depression assessment.
- Employed the Quality Of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) score to measure quality of life.
Main Results:
- Depressive symptoms were identified in 37.5% of the children.
- Significant associations found between depression and age, residence, and prior mood disorders.
- Sleep and appetite disturbances were strong predictors; higher seizure frequency and duration correlated with depression. QOLIE scores were lower in depressed children.
Conclusions:
- Depressive symptoms are prevalent and often underestimated in children with epilepsy.
- Routine screening for depression is recommended during epilepsy management.
- Timely diagnosis and integrated care can enhance the quality of life for epileptic children experiencing depression.
Background:
Epilepsy, the most common neurological disorder in children, may present with many psychiatric comorbidities, the most common of which is depression.
Aim Of The Work:
We evaluated the frequency of depressive symptoms in epileptic children, with regard to the possible association between depression and their demographic data or seizure-related variables.
Patients And Methods:
This cohort study was conducted on 80 children (6-13 years old) diagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy and were regularly recruiting the pediatric neurology clinic at Minya University Children Hospital. The Structured Birleson Depression Scale Questionnaire was used for assessment of presence of depressive symptoms, and Quality Of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) score was used to assess quality of life in those patients.
Results:
Depressive symptoms were found in 37.5% of enrolled patients. There were statistically significant differences between the patients with depressive symptoms and the other group regarding age (p=0.001), residence (p=0.006) and past history of mood disorders (p=0.03). Sleep disturbance was the highest predictor of depression in cases with depressive symptoms, detected in 90% of cases, followed by appetite disturbance in 86.6% of cases, while delusions and hallucinations were the lowest, detected in only 10% of cases. Both duration of epilepsy and frequency of seizures were significantly higher in cases with depressive symptoms than the other group (p=0.001) for both. QOLIE score was significantly lower in cases with depressive symptoms than the other group (p= 0.01 for all).
Conclusion:
Depressive symptoms are common in epileptic children, and it is often challenging and underestimated. It should be screened during the management of such children. Early diagnosis and more comprehensive package of care for depression in epileptic children will enable them to have a better quality of life.
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