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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

脑梗死患者的生活质量与其焦虑、抑郁情绪的相关性研究

目的 探讨脑梗死患者的生活质量与其焦虑、抑郁情绪的关系。方法 采用Zung焦虑自评量表（SAS）、Zung抑郁自评量表（SDS）及生活质量综合评定问卷（GQOLI）对80例脑梗死患者（脑梗死组）及80名健康人（对照组）进行问卷调查,并对生活质量与其焦虑、抑郁情绪作相关分析。结果 脑梗死患者的生活质量总分及躯体功能、心理功能、社会功能3个维度评分均明显低于对照组（P〈0．01）,而SAS及SDS评分均明显高于对照组（P〈0．01）。脑梗死患者的生活质量总分及躯体功能、心理功能、社会功能3个维度评分均与SAS及SDS评分呈显著性负相关。结论 脑梗死患者的生活质量较差,焦虑、抑郁情绪明显;其生活质量与焦虑、抑郁情绪密切相关。     

Differentiating symptoms of social anxiety and depression in adults with social anxiety disorder

Although studies have suggested a strong overlap between social anxiety disorder and depression, this is the first study to examine the ability of commonly used measures to differentiate symptoms of these disorders in a sample of clients with social anxiety disorder. Structural equation modeling revealed that commonly used measures of social anxiety and depression can differentiate the two constructs, rather than simply reflecting a single construct of overall distress. Logistic regression analyses indicated that scores on depressive symptom measures could predict which socially anxious clients met criteria for a comorbid depressive disorder.     

Impact of exercise on patients with depression and anxiety

Background: Persons with common mental disorders are at risk of lowered physical activity. Aims: To investigate if patients with depressive and/or anxiety disorders can achieve a level of physical activity meeting public health recommendations, increase their physical fitness and quality of life (QoL) through participation in a physical exercise programme. Methods: In a non-blinded controlled study, 48 patients referred by private psychiatric clinics and private general practices were either treated in an intervention (n=27) or a control group (n=21). The intervention group took part in 20 weeks of group exercise consisting of aerobic training and non-aerobic weight-lifting. All participants were interviewed and tested at baseline, week 20 and at week 32. Results: The intervention group increased in physical activity (120 min/week) and VO₂max (0.48 ml O₂/min). The VO₂max increase was maintained after a 12-week follow-up period. Findings should be conservatively interpreted because of high attrition rate. Conclusions: Patients with anxiety and/or depressive disorders who participated in a structured, supervised exercise programme achieved in accordance with public health recommendations a higher level of physical activity and VO₂max. Clinical implications: The clinical implications of the study may be a suggestion of offering physical exercise to milder and moderate severe cases of depression and anxiety.     

Duloxetine in treatment of anxiety symptoms associated with depression

Most patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have symptoms of anxiety associated with their depression. Duloxetine, a potent and balanced dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is effective in the treatmentof depression. We investigated its effects in treating the symptoms of anxiety in depressed patients. This investigation includes all the placebo-controlled studies of duloxetine in MDD but focuses on four trials in which duloxetine was superior to placebo on the primary outcome measure of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD(17)) total score. Studies 1 and 2 included duloxetine at 60 mg/d (the recommended starting and therapeutic dose) and placebo. Study 3 included duloxetine 120 mg/d (administered as 60 mg b.i.d.), fluoxetine 20 mg/d, and placebo. Study 4 included duloxetine 40 mg/d (administered as 20 mg b.i.d.), duloxetine 80 mg/d (administered as 40 mg b.i.d.), paroxetine 20 mg/d, and placebo. Anxiety was assessed in all studies using the HAMD anxiety/somatization subfactor and the anxiety-psychic item (HAMD Item 10). Studies 3 and 4 also included the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA). Across the four studies, duloxetine at doses of >/=60 mg was compared with placebo on 10 outcomes and with either paroxetine or fluoxetine on 6 outcomes. In 8 comparisons, mean improvement for duloxetine was significantly greater than placebo at the last study visit and/or across all study visits. In 3 comparisons, the mean improvement for duloxetine was significantly greater than paroxetine or fluoxetine. In these studies, duloxetine provided rapid relief of anxiety symptoms associated with depression. Previous reports have summarized duloxetine's efficacy in treating the core emotional symptoms and painful physical symptoms associated with depression. Duloxetine's efficacy in treating a broad spectrum of symptoms associated with depression, including mood, anxiety, and painful physical symptoms, may be attributed to dual reuptake inhibition of both serotonin and norepinephrine. Efficacy in these three key symptom domains may in turn explain the high probabilities of remission (43-57%) observed in these studies.     

Factor structure of the hospital anxiety and depression scale in older patients with major depression

OBJECTIVE: Symptomatic anxiety has prognostic significance in major depression. In theory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) should be a useful instrument for measuring the severity of symptomatic anxiety in late-life depression. However, the dimensional structure of the HADS has not been evaluated in elderly depressed patients; it is not known whether the scale actually functions as a bidimensional measure of anxiety and depression in this population. The purpose of this exploratory study, therefore, was to examine the factor structure of the HADS in older patients with major depression. METHOD: The HADS was completed by 213 patients, aged 60 years or older, with DSM-III-R unipolar major depression. Principal components analysis was performed on the full 14-item HADS and on each of its subscales. RESULTS: Two distinct factors, which corresponded to the instrument's depression and anxiety subscales, emerged. The two-factor structure proved reasonably stable when the study group was randomly divided into two halves. Analysis of the subscales resulted in a single factor for each. The subscales had high internal reliability. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that the HADS functions as a bidimensional measure of depression and anxiety in older patients with major depression. The results suggest that the HADS is a valid instrument for measuring severity of anxiety, independent of other depressive symptoms, in this population.     

Escitalopram in the treatment of anxiety symptoms associated with depression

Most patients with depression have symptoms of anxiety associated with their illness. Our aim in this study was to investigate the efficacy of escitalopram, a proven antidepressant, on symptoms of anxiety in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Data from five placebo-controlled escitalopram studies in MDD were analyzed. Three of the studies also included a comparison with citalopram. In all studies, anxiety was assessed using the Inner Tension item (item 3) of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). In three studies, anxiety symptoms were also specifically assessed, either continuously over time or at baseline and end point, by using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), the Anxious Mood item of the HAM-A (item 1), the Psychic Anxiety subscale of the HAM-A (items 1-6 and 14), the Anxiety Psychic item (item 10) of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-24), and the Anxiety/Somatization subfactor (items 10-13, 15, and 17) of the HAM-D-24. Escitalopram was significantly superior to placebo in all comparisons. Citalopram was also consistently better than placebo in all comparisons, except in the HAM-D-24 Anxiety/Somatization subfactor. In some comparisons with placebo, escitalopram showed a significantly earlier onset of action or an earlier separation. Escitalopram was significantly more effective compared to placebo in treating both anxiety symptoms and the entire depression in the total depressive population, as well as in depressive patients with a high degree of anxiety.     

Health-related quality of life in adolescents with well-controlled epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the work described in this article was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adolescents with well-controlled epilepsy. METHODS: The Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory for Adolescents 48 (QOLIE-AD-48) was completed by 71 subjects with uncomplicated epilepsy who had been seizure-free for more than a year. HRQOL was measured in eight domains: Health Perception, Epilepsy Impact, Memory/Concentration, Physical Functioning, Stigma, Social Support, School Behavior, and Attitudes toward Epilepsy. In addition, antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy and concern over seizures recurring were analyzed in relation to HRQOL. RESULTS: The mean HRQOL total scores were 83.9 for boys and 83.06 for girls. The highest scores were observed in the Physical Functioning and School Behavior domains; the lowest in the Attitudes toward Epilepsy domain. Girls reported more positive perceptions in the Stigma and Social Support domains. Greater intake of AEDs and concern over seizures recurring accounted for poorer HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with favorable seizure control evaluated their HRQOL as satisfactory. However, they perceived their best adjustment to epilepsy to be in the Physical Functioning and School Behavior domains. AED intake and concern over seizures recurring were predictors of HRQOL in this group.     

Anxiety and depression in primary care patients: predictors of symptom severity and developmental correlates

OBJECTIVE: A study in a German general practice used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression in 242 consecutive patients. The study had two additional goals: (1) to identify indicators of symptom severity and (2) to validate the HADS by relating it to measures of developmental psychopathology. METHODS: In addition to the HADS, clinical/sociodemographic data were collected. Patients filled up additional questionnaires measuring attachment characteristics, recalled parental rearing behavior, resilience, adverse childhood experiences, and physical complaints. RESULTS: Using HADS cutoff scores of > or =11 in total, we found that 21.1% of the patients showed clinically relevant anxiety levels; the rate for depression was 12.0%, that for anxiety or depression was 26.1%, and that for anxiety and depression combined was 7%. With the exception of psychiatric disorders, the HADS did not differentiate between subgroups with different somatic diseases. HADS scores were shown to be predicted by the patients' sex, family status, number of consultations, and subjective physical complaints. Patients with higher HADS scores also indicated lower resilience, more insecure attachment, and negative recalled parental rearing behavior. Resilience, attachment security, and specific parental behavior (control/warmth) independently predicted anxiety, depression, and physical complaints. CONCLUSION: This study provides further support for the usefulness of the HADS as a measure for routine screening for anxiety and depression and its relationship with constructs from developmental psychopathology. We recommend the use of the HADS in combination with potential indicators of symptom severity (fatigue, cardiovascular symptoms, high number of consultations) to identify patients needing psychosocial support.     

抑郁、焦虑对癫(癎)患者健康相关生存质量的影响

目的 调查癫(癎)患者健康相关生存质量和情绪健康状况,探讨各种因素对患者生存质量的影响.方法 使用世界卫生组织(WHO)生存质量量表中文版简表(QOL-BREF)附加癫(癎)生存质量量表(QOLIE)-31(中文版)、抑郁自评量表(SD5)、焦虑自评量表(SAS)进行生存质量和心境健康状况调查.多元逐步回归分析各种因素对生存质量的影响.结果 癫(癎)患者(n=141)在WHOQOL-BREF的生理、心理领域得分(分别为12.7±1.8、12.4 4-1.9)比常模下降(15.1±2.3、13.9±1.9,t=11.75、8.625,P<0.05);有抑郁情绪者占57.4 % ,有焦虑情绪者占39.7 % .合并抑郁、焦虑情绪的癫(癎)患者在除外QOLIE-31药物的影响领域的生存质量各个领域得分均减低;多元逐步回归结果显示,影响QOLIE总分的3个因素按影响作用大小依次是焦虑、抑郁和病程.结论 合并抑郁、焦虑情绪障碍,病程长是癫(癎)患者生存质量下降的重要因素.     

正念干预对炎症性肠病患者抑郁、焦虑及生活质量影响的Meta分析

目的评价正念干预对炎症性肠病(IBD)患者抑郁、焦虑及生活质量的影响,为IBD患者正念干预的临床应用提供循证参考。方法对PubMed、Embase、PsycINFO、Cochrane Library、中国知网、万方数据库、中国生物医学文献数据库进行检索,收集关于正念疗法干预IBD患者的随机对照研究的相关数据,采用RevMan 5. 3进行Meta分析。结果共纳入5项随机对照研究,包括319例IBD患者,其中干预组163例,对照组156例。Meta分析结果显示,干预结束时,与对照组相比,正念干预组抑郁水平更低,差异有统计学意义(SMD=-0. 56,95%CI:-0. 87～-0. 26,P0. 05),正念干预对IBD患者焦虑水平(SMD=-0. 15,95%CI:-0. 59～0. 30,P=0. 52)、生活质量(SMD=0. 13,95%CI:-0. 20～0. 47,P=0. 44)的改善无统计学意义;长期随访,与对照组相比,正念干预对IBD患者抑郁、焦虑及生活质量的改善差异无统计学意义(P0. 05)。结论正念干预可能有助于降低IBD患者抑郁水平,但长期效应尚不明确。     

Screening for depression and anxiety disorders in primary care patients

Mood and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in primary health care. In this study we assessed performance of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for screening of depression and anxiety disorders in a population of primary care patients. A total of 503 primary care patients consecutively admitted to the primary care medical center in Kaunas, Lithuania, completed the study. We found that the HADS subscale of depression (HADS-D) at a cutoff score of 6 or more showed the best performance screening for a major depressive episode diagnosed by means of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), with a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 69%, positive predictive value of 80%, negative predictive value of 92%, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.75. Performance of the HADS-D against MINI diagnosis of dysthymia was weak. The HADS subscale of anxiety (HADS-A) at a cutoff score of 9 or more showed the best performance screening for MINI diagnosis of overall anxiety disorders, with a sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 75%, positive predictive value of 53%, negative predictive value of 90%, and area under the ROC curve of 0.76. These results suggest that in primary care patients HADS is an adequate screening instrument for the MINI diagnoses of major depressive episode, but not for dysthymia at a cutoff score of 6, and for anxiety disorders at a cutoff score of 9.     

Seizure reduction and quality of life improvements in people with epilepsy

PURPOSE: Previous research suggests that seizure freedom may be necessary to improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for epilepsy surgery patients, but little is known regarding the seizure-frequency reduction needed to improve HRQOL among medically treated individuals. METHODS: With data from 134 adults with refractory complex partial seizures participating in a randomized controlled antiepileptic drug (AED) trial, we compared the change in HRQOL across groups having different levels of change in seizure frequency: 100%, 75-99%, 50-74% reduction, and 0-50% increase or decrease. Changes over time within each seizure-reduction group also were assessed. HRQOL was measured by the QOLIE-31, QOLIE-89, and SF-36. RESULTS: Subjects who became seizure free reported significantly more positive change than those who did not on the QOLIE-31 and QOLIE-89 overall scores, the QOLIE-89 mental health, physical health, and epilepsy-targeted composites, as well as the SF-36 mental health summary score. Changes over time in overall QOLIE-31 and QOLIE-89 scores were significantly more positive for subjects who achieved seizure freedom (i.e., 100% reduction in seizure frequency) than for those who did not. No significant change in QOLIE-31 and QOLIE-89 overall scores was observed for subjects who did not achieve seizure freedom. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, HRQOL improvement occurred primarily among patients who achieved complete seizure freedom. Many AED trials use a 50% seizure-frequency reduction criterion as a trial end point, but measurable impacts of this degree of reduction in seizure frequency on HRQOL in this sample were not observed. These results further support striving for seizure freedom as an epilepsy care goal.     

抑郁症伴焦虑症状的影响因素分析

目的探讨抑郁症患者伴焦虑症状的发生情况,并从社会心理因素方面分析抑郁症伴焦虑症状的影响因素。方法采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton depression rating scale,HAMD)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(Hamilton anxiety rating scale,HAMA)、艾森克人格问卷(Eysenck personality questionnaire,EPQ)、生活事件量表(life event scale,LES)、特质应对方式问卷(trait coping style questionnaire,TCSQ)、社会支持问卷(social support scale,SSS)对729例抑郁症患者进行评估,根据HAMA得分将患者分为不伴焦虑症状组(HAMA7分)和伴焦虑症状组(HAMA14分),比较两组社会心理因素,并分析抑郁症伴焦虑症状的影响因素。结果抑郁症患者中焦虑症状(HAMA14分)的发生率为58.85%(429/729),16.32%(119/729)肯定不伴焦虑症状(HAMA7分)。伴焦虑症状组神经质、精神质、负性生活事件、消极应对方式的得分高于不伴焦虑症状组(P0.001);外倾性的得分低于不伴焦虑症状组(P=0.010)。抑郁程度(OR=9.255,95%CI:4.726~18.127)、神经质(OR=1.595,95%CI:1.197~2.125)、负性生活事件(OR=1.009,95%CI:1.001~1.017)、消极应对方式(OR=1.046,95%CI:1.013~1.080)均是抑郁症患者伴焦虑症状的危险因素(P0.05)。结论抑郁症患者焦虑症状的发生率高。抑郁症状严重、高神经质水平、经历更多负性生活事件、倾向于采用消极应对方式的抑郁症患者更有可能伴焦虑症状。     

心理干预对恶性肿瘤患者焦虑、抑郁状态及生活质量的影响

目的 探讨心理干预对恶性肿瘤患者焦虑抑郁状态及生活质量的影响.方法 将205例恶性肿瘤患者随机分为对照组和心理干预组,对照组采用常规放疗、化疗及最佳支持治疗,心理干预组在常规治疗基础上对患者进行心理干预,治疗前后采用焦虑自评量表(SAS),抑郁自评量表(SDS)和EORTC-QLQ-C30量表对患者进行焦虑抑郁状态及生活质量的测定.结果 两组患者入院时SDS及SAS评分比较无统计学差异(P＞0.05),心理干预组第6周SDS及SAS评分均明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),心理干预后可改善癌症患者生活质量,较干预前差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 心理干预能够改善恶性肿瘤患者焦虑抑郁情绪,提高生活质量,有利于患者的康复.     

Anxiety and depression of patients with digestive cancer

This study sought to characterize the psychological status of digestive cancer patients, and to investigate the relationship between psychological characteristics and clinical factors. Subjects were 85 inpatients scheduled to undergo surgery for digestive cancer and 26 control patients. The Japanese versions of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Zung's Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were administered for all subjects before surgery, before discharge, and 6 months after discharge. Changes in HADS and SDS scores across the three examination days for three groups of subjects (advanced-phase, early phase, and control groups) were compared. The mean scores of anxiety and depression were significantly higher in the advanced-phase group than in the other two groups. Examination day showed a significant effect on depression; depression increased from before surgery to before discharge, and did not return to the preoperative level at 6 months after discharge, but no significant effect on anxiety. As for the relationship between psychological trends and clinical factors, anxiety in the 'middle age' and 'chemotherapy' groups was more severe than in the 'elderly' and 'no chemotherapy' groups. Depression in the 'medical treatment equipment', 'chemotherapy', and 'long-term hospitalization' groups was more severe than in the 'no equipment', 'no chemotherapy', and 'standard-term hospitalization' groups. These results suggest that we should pay careful attention to cancer patients undergoing surgery, especially young patients who are constantly at risk of anxiety, and assess their depression taking into account their disease and treatment conditions, especially after the time when their discharge is determined.