Supervisors info:
Φερεντίνος Παναγιώτης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Βουμβουράκης Κωνσταντίνος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Μπονάκης Αναστάσιος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή,ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
This is a Cross-Sectional Study carried out in collaboration with the Epilepsy Outpatient Unit of U.G.H. “Attikon” with the aim of studying the effect of the type of antiepileptic drugs (AED) on the quality of life (QOL) and the anxiety and depressive symptoms of patients with epilepsy, the study of the prevalence of mental disorders in epileptic patients and the investigation of factors affecting the onset of a mental disorder following AED administration. The study included 57 adults with focal or generalized epilepsy who were receiving appropriate AED treatment for at least 4 weeks. Each person participated by completing three questionnaires (clinical demographic data, QOLIE-31, HADS) followed by an interview based on the semi-structured SCID-5 interview, in order to assess the current mental state and history. It was necessary to classify the administered treatment into two groups. The first group included those receiving only old AEDs or combination therapy with old and new AEDs (36.8%) and the second group included those receiving only new AEDs (63.2%). Multiple linear regression analyzes were performed to highlight factors related to the quality of life score and the score of the HADS scale.The analysis identified the occurrence of seizures during the last month before the examination as the most important factor associated with the QOLIE-31 Overall Score (Beta = -10.684, p = 0.027), the QOLIE-31 Social Functioning Subscale (Beta = -17.463, p = 0.021 ) and the QOLIE-31 Cognitive Functioning Subscale (Beta = -14.625, p = 0.025). Anxiety symptoms (HADSA) was associated with the QOLIE-31 Medication Effects Subscale (Beta = -0.051, p = 0.01). Depressive symptoms (HADSD) were associated with the occurrence of seizures during the last month before the examination (Beta = 2.750, p = 0.014), the QOLIE-31 Medication Effects Subscale (Beta = -0.039, p = 0.015) and age (Beta). = 0.074, p = 0.043). 42.1% of epileptic patients were diagnosed with mental disorder after starting AED. The mental disorders with the highest prevalence were Depressive Disorders (21.1%) and Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders (17.5%). Multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to identify factors associated with an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with a mental disorder after the onset of AED. Occupational status (OR = 0.240, p = 0.030) and Age (OR = 1.049, p = 0.044) were identified as significant predictors. The present study confirmed the wide prescription of a newer generation AEDs in the treatment of epilepsy, how important it is to adequately control seizures, as it is related to the quality of life of patients and the occurrence of psychopathology and emphasizes the need for systematic evaluation during the course of treatment of epileptic patients, based on contemporary psychiatric taxonomy.
