Quality of life and memory performance in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: To explore the contribution of memory performance to quality of life (QOL) in patients with left or right temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients with left or right TLE compiled the QOL in Epilepsy-89 Inventory (QOLIE-89), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Hopelessness Scale (BDI) for self-evaluation of QOL and mood. Memory was assessed by tests of verbal and non-verbal memory and the Questionnaire of Memory Efficiency (QME). A neuropsychological battery was also administered to assess general intelligence, attention, visual perception, language, set shifting, word fluency and conceptual-motor tracking. RESULTS: On factor analysis, the neuropsychological battery and mood scales consisted of six factors (Memory, Mental Speed, Mood, Praxis, Sorting and Perception), while the QOLIE-89 consisted of five factors (Psychosocial Satisfaction, Epilepsy-Related Effects, Role, Physical Performance, Cognition). On regression analysis, overall QOLIE-89 score was predicted by the factor Mood and QME score. The QOLIE-89 factor Cognition was predicted by QME score and the Memory, Mental Speed, Perception and Praxis factors of the neuropsychological battery. CONCLUSION: In TLE patients self-reported memory, as assessed by QME, is an important predictor of QOL, and also correlates with performance on memory tests. This suggests that memory improvement by specific training may help to improve QOL in these patients.