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Symptoms of depression and anxiety in pediatric epilepsy patients
A B Ettinger1, D M Weisbrot, E E Nolan
1Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11794-8121, USA.
Purpose:
We assessed rates of symptoms of anxiety and depression among pediatric patients with epilepsy.
Methods:
We administered the Revised Child Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), and Child Depression Inventory (CDI) to 44 epilepsy patients aged 7-18 years (mean age 12.4 years). Demographic, socioeconomic, and epilepsy-related information was examined in relation to depression and anxiety scores.
Results:
No patients had been previously identified to have depression or anxiety. However, 26% had significantly increased depression scores and 16% met criteria for significant anxiety symptomatology.
Conclusions:
Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common among pediatric patients with epilepsy and appear to be overlooked by care providers.