Anxiety in children with epilepsy

Although the prevalence is unknown, affective disorders are more common in children with epilepsy than in healthy controls. The purpose of the present study was to examine the occurrence of anxiety in children and adolescents with epilepsy and to determine factors associated with elevation of these symptoms. Children and adolescents (n=101) between the ages of 6 and 16 years were given the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS). Mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety were reported by 23% of the patients. Based on regression analysis, factors significantly associated with increased anxiety included the presence of comorbid learning or behavioral difficulties, ethnicity, and polytherapy. Results suggest the need to monitor children and adolescents with epilepsy for affective symptoms in order to provide appropriate interventions.     

癫痫患儿的焦虑情绪及影响因素分析

目的 观察癫痫患儿的焦虑状态,并探讨患儿的性别、抑郁、个性情况以及监护人的焦虑、抑郁和个性等对患儿焦虑状态的影响.方法 采用儿童社交焦虑量表(SASC)、儿童抑郁自评量表(DSRS)、焦虑自评量表(SAS)、Beck抑郁自评问卷(BDI)以及儿童和成人艾森克个性问卷(EPQ)对95例癫痫患儿及其监护人的焦虑、抑郁、个性的3个维度进行评分,同时与对照组118例儿童的焦虑状态进行比较.结果 癫痫患儿SASC得分较对照组儿童高,癫痫组女童较男童得分高,患儿各年龄段的焦虑水平随年龄增长而增高,13～15岁癫痫组儿童得分较同年龄段对照组高,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).癫痫组SASC得分与DSRS、儿童EPQN、P量表得分呈正相关,与E量表得分呈负相关;与监护人SAS得分呈正相关,与监护人EPQ E量表得分呈负相关;而与监护人BDI以及EPQP、N量表得分之间无相关关系.监护人文化程度相同时,癫痫组和对照组SASC得分差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);监护人文化程度不同时,癫痫组SASC得分差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).监护人职业相同时,癫痫组和对照组SASC得分差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);监护人职业不同时,癫痫组SASC得分差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).患儿发作形式、影像学表现及病程不同时,患儿SASC得分差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 癫痫患儿的焦虑水平较正常儿童升高,且与患儿的性别、年龄、患儿和监护人的焦虑或抑郁水平及某些个性特征相关,而与患儿的发作形式、影像学表现、病程长短、监护人的职业和文化程度无关.     

Anxiety and depression predicted by medically unexplained symptoms in Pakistani children: A case-control study

Objective

To explore association between medically unexplained symptoms in children in Pakistan with emotional difficulties and functional impairments.

Methods

We conducted a matched three-group case-control study of 186 children aged 8–16 years in Lahore, Pakistan. Cases were 62 children with chronic somatic symptoms for which no organic cause was identified after investigations. Two control groups of 62 children with chronic medical paediatric conditions, and 62 healthy children were identified. Cases and controls were matched for gender, age, and school class. Somatisation was measured with the Children's Somatisation Inventory (CSI-24) while anxiety and depression were measured with the Spencer Children's Anxiety Scale and the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire respectively. All questionnaires were translated into Urdu.

Results

Mean age was 11.7 years (SD = 2.1). Cases scored significantly higher on somatisation (CSI-24), anxiety and depression than both control groups. Paediatric controls scored significantly higher than healthy controls on all three measures. Two hierarchical linear regression models were used to explore if somatisation predicted depression and anxiety while controlling for several confounders. Somatisation (higher CSI-24 scores) independently and significantly predicted higher anxiety (β = .37, p = .0001) and depression (β = .41, p = .0001) scores.

Conclusion

This is the first study to show an association between medically unexplained symptoms and anxiety and depression in Pakistani children. This highlights the importance of screening for emotional difficulties in children presenting with unexplained somatic symptoms in this region.     

Assessment of Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents with Mental Retardation

This report examines the concurrent validity of different informant and self-report assessment instruments of psychopathology, both general and specific for anxiety and/or depression, in referred mentally retarded adolescents with a depressive and anxiety disorders, according to DSM IV criteria. A consecutive, unselected sample of 50 mildly and moderate mentally retarded adolescents (29 males and 21 females, aged 11.8 to 18 years, mean age 15.1) were assessed using standardized assessment techniques: Psychopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults (PIMRA) (informant version) (total score, affective and anxiety subscales), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (informant version) (total score, internalizing and externalizing scores, anxiety-depression scale), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. Patterns of correlation among measures were calculated. PIMRA and CBCL total scores were closely intercorrelated. Internalizing and externalizing scores of CBCL were not intercorrelated, but they both correlated with CBCL and PIMRA total scores. Anxiety measures were positively correlated; they correlated with PIMRA and CBCL total scores, as well as with the internalizing score of CBCL. Depression measures were not correlated; their correlation with more general measures of psychopathology was weak. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Symptoms of anxiety and depression in childhood absence epilepsy

Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) has been recently linked to a number of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional disorders. Identification of affective disorders (anxiety and depression) presents unique challenges in pediatric populations, and successful early intervention may significantly improve long-term developmental outcomes. The current study examined the specific anxiety and depression symptoms children with CAE experience, and explored the role of disease factors in the severity of their presentation. Forty-five subjects with CAE and 41 healthy matched controls, ages 6-16 years, participated in the study. The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) was completed by parents, and the Anxiety and Depression subscales were used to characterize problems. Item analysis within the subscales revealed that children with CAE demonstrated higher rates of symptoms of anxiety (nervousness and thought rumination) and depression (sadness and crying), as well as more general psychosocial problems including isolation and low self-esteem. Disease duration, intractability, and medication effects were not associated with higher rates of affective problems in this limited patient sample. Screening of patients with CAE for comorbid psychiatric disorders early by focusing on specific symptom profiles unique to this population may enhance overall treatment and developmental outcomes.     

癫痫与抑郁关系的研究进展

抑郁是癫痫患者中常见的精神障碍,严重地影响了患者的生活质量。传统的观点认为癫痫患者因为存在着诸多社会学问题易出现抑郁倾向,癫痫和抑郁是单向的联系,但大量的研究已经证明癫痫和抑郁之间存在双向的联系,一种异常状态的存在可能易转化为另一种异常状态的发展。癫痫和抑郁存在着共同的发病机制。本文主要就癫痫和抑郁的双向联系以及抗抑郁药物在癫痫患者中的应用进行阐述。     

Differentiating anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with partial epilepsy

Anxiety and depression are separate psychiatric conditions that are often interrelated. This study examines whether they exist independently in this population of patients with partial epilepsy and if they affect all quality-of-life domains. Adult epilepsy patients taking two or more antiepileptic drugs completed a health status survey including demographic items, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-10 (QOLIE-10). The questionnaire was completed by 201 epilepsy patients. Symptom prevalences of anxiety (52% none, 25% mild, 16% moderate, 7% severe) and depression (62% none, 20% mild, 14% moderate, 4% severe) were high. All health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) domains worsened significantly with increasing levels of anxiety and depression: Total QOLIE-10 scores decreased from 72+/-18 in patients with no anxiety to 54+/-13 in those with mild, 48+/-18 in those with moderate, and 40+/-23 in those with severe anxiety (P<0.0001). Total QOLIE-10 scores decreased from 70+/-16 in patients with no depression to 50+/-16 in those with mild, 45+/-16 in those with moderate, and 24+/-21 in those with severe depression (P<0.0001). No significant difference in anxiety scores was observed controlling for seizure frequency or epilepsy duration. Regression analyses showed that anxiety and depression account for different proportions of variance as predictors of HRQOL (R2=0.337 (anxiety) and 0.511 (depression)). The data suggest that patients may benefit from increased attention to the role of anxiety separately from depression.     

Association of subjective anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance with quality-of-life ratings in adults with epilepsy

Purpose :  To determine the relative contributions of subjective anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and seizure-related variables to quality-of-life scores in adults with epilepsy, and the interrelationships among these factors.
Methods :  Consecutive adult patients with epilepsy attending neurology outpatient clinics were recruited. Patients completed the following scales: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Sleep Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31). Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to identify variables associated with QOLIE-31 overall score. Path analysis model was constructed to test for interrelations between the variables.
Results :  Two hundred forty-seven patients completed the questionnaires. By multivariate analysis, in order of degree of contribution, HADS anxiety subscale score, MOS Sleep Scale Sleep Problems Index score, HADS depression subscale score, number of current antiepileptic drugs used, and seizure freedom in the past 4 weeks, significantly correlated with QOLIE-31 overall score, accounting for 65.2% of the variance. Complex interrelationships were present between these factors. A general linear model to predict QOLIE-31 overall score in the presence of these factors was constructed.
Conclusion :  Subjective anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance exerted greater effect than short-term seizure control on quality of life scores of patients with epilepsy. These factors should be considered simultaneously when evaluating effects of treatment on quality of life.     

Prevalence of self-reported epilepsy or seizure disorder and its associations with self-reported depression and anxiety: results from the 2004 HealthStyles Survey

PURPOSE: To examine the prevalence of self-reported epilepsy or seizure disorder and its association with self-reported recent depression and anxiety in a large sample of the U.S. adult population. METHODS: We analyzed data from adults aged 18 years or older (n = 4,345) who participated in the 2004 HealthStyles Survey, a large mail panel survey designed to be representative of the U.S. population. RESULTS: Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, we estimated that 2.9% have been told by a doctor that they had epilepsy or seizure disorder, and an estimated 1.6% and 0.9% had active and inactive epilepsy, respectively. After controlling for demographic characteristics, we estimated that adults with self-reported epilepsy were twice as likely to self-report depression or anxiety in the previous year as were adults without epilepsy, and adults with active epilepsy were 3 times as likely to self-report depression and twice as likely to have anxiety in the previous year as were adults without epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the burden of self-reported depression and anxiety among adults with self-reported epilepsy or seizure disorder, and suggest that healthcare providers should attempt to determine whether adult patients with epilepsy have any psychiatric comorbidity potentially to improve health outcomes. Questions about epilepsy and related factors should be routinely included on population-based surveys so that we can better understand the epilepsy distribution in the U.S. population and identify the unmet health and psychosocial needs of people with epilepsy.     

The impact of depression and anxiety disorder symptoms on the health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with epilepsy

This study evaluated the effects of depression and anxiety disorder symptoms on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of children and adolescents with epilepsy. Sixty children and adolescents and their parents participated in the study. Symptoms of anxiety disorders were identified by the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders questionnaire (SCARED) and symptoms of depression by the Mood and Feeling Questionnaire (MFQ). The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was used for HRQOL assessments. A series of simple and partial correlations revealed that the levels of HRQOL significantly decrease as symptoms of depression or anxiety disorders increase and vice versa. Stepwise regression method of children's ratings resulted in a final model of school achievement and symptoms of generalized anxiety and separation anxiety disorder as predictors that explain 50.9% of the variation in HRQOL (F = 11.21, p < 0.000). For parents' ratings, the final model included symptoms of depression and separation anxiety disorder as predictors that explain 38.4% of the variation in HRQOL (F = 10.82, p < 0.000). In summary, symptoms of depression and generalized and separation anxiety disorders have the most significant impact on HRQOL.     

Factors contributing to depression in patients with epilepsy

We investigated factors contributing to depression in patients with epilepsy. Data were collected from 150 adult patients. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory, Daily Hassles Scale, Epilepsy Self‐Efficacy Scale, Social Support Scale, Stress Coping Style Checklist, and Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 31 (QOLIE‐31) were used. The mean BDI score was 13.4 [standard deviation (SD) 9.0]. Abnormal BDI scores were recorded in 93 patients. Six significant predictors of BDI were identified in a stepwise linear regression analysis: level of stress (p < 0.001), social support (p = 0.037), anxiety (p = 0.001), self‐efficacy (p < 0.001), employment status (p = 0.021), and age (p = 0.042). Stress accounted for 38.8% of the variance in BDI score, social support accounted for 6.8%, anxiety accounted for 3.9%, and the remaining three variables accounted for an additional 5.2% of the variance (total explained variance = 54.7%).     

Screening for major depression in epilepsy with common self-report depression inventories

PURPOSE: Major depression is a common psychiatric comorbidity in chronic epilepsy that is frequently unrecognized and untreated. A variety of self-report mood inventories are available, but their validity as well as ability to detect major depression in epilepsy remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of two common depressive symptom inventories to identify major depression in people with epilepsy. METHODS: In total, 174 adult patients with epilepsy underwent standardized psychiatric interview techniques [Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and Mood Disorders module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders-Research Version (SCID-I)] to determine the presence of current major depression. Subjects completed two self-report depression inventories [Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Center for Epidemiological Study of Depression (CES-D)]. The ability of these self-report measures to identify major depression as identified by the gold standard structured interviews was examined by using diagnostic efficiency statistics. RESULTS: Both the BDI-II and the CES-D exhibited significant ability to identify major depression in epilepsy. All ROC analyses were highly significant (mean area under the curve, 0.92). Mean sensitivity (0.93) and specificity (0.81) were strong, with excellent negative predictive value (0.98) but lower positive predictive value (0.47). CONCLUSIONS: Common self-report depression measures can be used to screen for major depression in clinical settings. Use of these measures will assist in the clinical identification of patients with major depression so that treatment can be initiated.     

抑郁、癫痫与癫痫并发抑郁症患者血清中细胞因子水平比较

目的通过检测抑郁、癫痫与癫痫并发抑郁症患者血清中细胞因子的水平,探讨细胞因子与抑郁、癫痫及癫痫并发抑郁症之间的关系。方法收集2004年9月~2009年4月期间在我院住院的首发抑郁症患者73例、原发性癫痫患者82例,采用Hamilton抑郁量表（HAMD）测试,将原发性癫痫患者分为癫痫组及癫痫合并抑郁组,选择35例心身健康的个体作为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测各组血清中,白介素IL-2、白介素IL-6和肿瘤坏死因子TNF-α水平,最后对测得的所有数据进行统计学检验分析。结果患病组与健康对照组年龄、文化程度及性别构成比之间无统计学差异。比较所有数据,结果显示抑郁、癫痫及癫痫并发抑郁症组血清IL-2、IL-6和TNF-α浓度均高于对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05或0.01）。癫痫并发抑郁症组血清IL-2、IL-6和TNF-α浓度均略高于抑郁症患者,显著高于单纯癫痫患者,且差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论抑郁、癫痫及癫痫并发抑郁症患者存在细胞因子浓度改变,抑郁、癫痫及癫痫并发抑郁与细胞因子之间有重要关系。     

癫癎患者生活质量的研究

目的探讨成年癫癎患者生活质量状况及其影响因素.方法实验组86例癫癎患者,对照组59名健康自愿受试者.用世界卫生组织生存质量量表中文版简表(Q0 L-BREF)、癫癎患者生活质量量表(QOLIE-31)评定生活质量;用症状自评量表评价心境健康;分析各种影响因素的作用.结果实验组生活质量在心理领域得分比对照组低(P＜0.05);除精力/疲乏领域外的各领域均有50%以上实验组QOLIE-31得分低于平均水平;实验组的抑郁、焦虑分均比对照组明显增高(P＜0.0001);影响QOLIE总分的三个因素按作用大小依次是抑郁、焦虑和用药种数.结论癫癎患者生活质量下降,心境健康恶化;对总体QOLIE影响最大的因素是抑郁、焦虑和用药种数.     

Negative emotions in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy

PURPOSE: To understand the emotional predicament in children with recently diagnosed idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy. METHODS: We used the well-tried method of structured projection for the first time in children with epilepsy. Thirty-six children with epilepsy, aged 7-15 years (mean age, 9.5 years) and in 35 control children aged 7-15 years (mean age, 9.4 years), attributed shame and guilt in relation to three types of situation (non-illness related, illness related, and epilepsy related). Children were evaluated twice: shortly after diagnosis, before antiepileptic drug (AED) use and after an interval of 3 months. RESULTS: Children with epilepsy and healthy controls were similar in their way of attributing shame and guilt. However, the type of situation was of influence: Both children with epilepsy and healthy children attributed more shame to incompetence due to epilepsy than to incompetence due to other illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: Increased affective problems in childhood epilepsy cannot be explained by excessive attribution of shame and guilt, affects known to be important precursors of psychopathology, yet both healthy children and children with epilepsy attribute more shame to epilepsy than to other illnesses. Epilepsy is not like any other disease.     

Seizure impact on the school attendance in children with epilepsy

RATIONALE: Epilepsy has a significant influence on the patient's quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of ongoing seizures on school attendance amongst children with epilepsy. METHODS: This was a prospective study, conducted at the University of Campinas, in the pediatric epilepsy clinic, from January 2005 to August 2006. We enrolled 50 consecutive children who had a diagnosis of epilepsy. Parents were interviewed by one of the authors using a semi-structured questionnaire that included questions specifically addressing the impact of epilepsy on the child's academic life. RESULTS: Fifty patients were evaluated, 34 boys and 16 girls; ages ranged from 6 to 18 years old (mean=11). Eighty-eight percent of patients in the study missed at least 1 day of school due to seizures. The reason given by parents for a school absence was seizure in 75%, medical appointment in 79.5%, epilepsy related tests (EEG, MRI, etc.) in 68.2%, and other in 0.03%. Almost half of the parents (46%) believed that if the child had a seizure at school he/she should leave school immediately. Sixty percent of families allowed the child to skip a school day even if there was no illness and the child had no seizures on that day. Among those patients with siblings, 12.5% had a brother or sister who was absent from school for at least 1 day due to his/her sibling's epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Seizures have a significant impact on school attendance, and as a result may increase the academic difficulties faced by children with epilepsy. This effect may be especially pronounced in children with symptomatic epilepsy and medically intractable seizures.     

Preventing depression in adolescents with epilepsy

PURPOSE: The goal of the work described in this article was to test the possibility of preventing depression among adolescents with epilepsy. METHODS: Adolescents with newly diagnosed epilepsy (104 patients) were screened for depression. The risk for depression was increased in 30 (28.8%) patients (mean age 17.4, 60% females) who were randomized into two equal treatment groups: (1) cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBI) group and (2) treatment with counseling as usual (TAU) group. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Center for Epidemiological Study on Depression (CES-D) scale, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31) were administered at baseline and during the 9-month follow-up. RESULTS: Initial BDI and HAMD scores for the two groups were comparable. Depression was diagnosed during follow-up in three patients in the TAU group. Subthreshold depressive disorder significantly improved at follow-up in the BCI group compared with the TAU group (P<0.05). QOLIE-31 Total scores significantly correlated with both mood improvement and seizure-free state.     

左乙拉西坦联合盐酸舍曲林治疗癫痫伴抑郁患儿的疗效观察

目的 探讨左乙拉西坦联合盐酸舍曲林治疗癫痫伴抑郁症儿童的临床疗效。方法 回顾性分析112例6~15岁癫痫伴抑郁症的临床资料,按年龄分为学龄组（6~12岁,56例）和少年组（13~15岁,56例）,评估治疗前后癫痫发作频率、认知功能（WISC-CR）、汉密尔顿抑郁量表17项（HAMD-17）、生活质量、身体质量指数（BMI）、不良反应发生率。结果 与治疗前相比,两组治疗6、12个月,癫痫发作频率、认知功能、HAMD-17评分、生活质量均显著改善（P<0.05）;同时,学龄组癫痫发作频率、认知功能、HAMD-17评分、生活质量均显著优于少年组（P<0.05）;两组治疗后BMI、不良反应发生率无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论 采用左乙拉西坦联合盐酸舍曲林治疗癫痫伴抑郁症儿童可获得显著的疗效,其中学龄组疗效优于少年组。     

Utilization of care among drug resistant epilepsy patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression

PurposeEpilepsy patients have a significantly higher rate of anxiety and depression than the general population, and psychiatric disease is particularly prevalent among drug resistant epilepsy patients. Symptoms of anxiety and depression might serve as a barrier to appropriate epilepsy care.The aim of this study was to determine if drug resistant epilepsy patients with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression receive different epilepsy management than controls.MethodWe identified 83 patients with drug resistant focal epilepsy seen at the Penn Epilepsy Center. Upon enrollment, all patients completed 3 self-report scales and a neuropsychiatric inventory and were grouped into those with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression and controls. Each patient's medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 1–2 years, and objective measures of outpatient and inpatient epilepsy management were assessed.ResultsAt baseline, 53% (n = 43) of patients screened positive for symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. The remaining 47% (n = 38) served as controls. Patients with anxiety and/or depression symptoms had more missed outpatient visits per year compared to controls (median 0.84 vs. 0.48, p = 0.02). Patients with symptoms of both anxiety and depression were more likely to undergo an inpatient admission or procedure (56% vs. 24%, p = 0.02).ConclusionFor most measures of epilepsy management, symptoms of anxiety and/or depression do not alter epilepsy care; however, drug resistant epilepsy patients with anxiety and/or depression symptoms may be more likely to miss outpatient appointments, and those with the highest burden of psychiatric symptoms may be admitted more frequently for inpatient services compared to controls.