Assessment of psychological resilience in adult patients with epilepsy: a cross-sectional study

Psychological resilience plays a crucial role in the quality of life and mental health of patients with epilepsy (PWE). However, there is limited research on the factors influencing psychological resilience in Chinese PWE. This study aimed to investigate the determinants of psychological resilience in PWE and explore the relationship between neurological health status and resilience.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 80 PWE recruited from a single center in China. Psychological resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and neurological health status was evaluated using the Neurological Health Status Scale (NHS3). Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, education level, marital status, employment status, monthly household income, residential area, disease duration, seizure type, and seizure frequency, were collected. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with psychological resilience.

The mean CD-RISC score for PWE was 51.3 ± 11.12. Univariate analysis showed that male gender, higher education level, married status, urban residence, shorter disease duration (≤ 5 years), focal seizures, lower seizure frequency (1-3 times per month), and absence of status epilepticus history were associated with higher resilience scores. Multiple linear regression analysis identified gender (P = 0.012), education level (P = 0.013), disease duration (P = 0.001), seizure frequency (P = 0.001), and NHS3 score (P = 0.031) as significant predictors of psychological resilience. The model was statistically significant (F = 16.217, p < 0.001) and explained 67.6% of the variance (R²=0.676).

This study highlights the key factors influencing psychological resilience in Chinese PWE, emphasizing the impact of gender, education level, disease duration, seizure frequency, and neurological health status. The findings suggest that targeted psychological interventions, educational support, and improved healthcare access are crucial for enhancing resilience in PWE. Additionally, addressing social stigma and promoting epilepsy awareness in China may further improve the psychological well-being of patients.