Socio-demographic and Clinical Predictors of Co-morbid Psychiatric Disorders in Patients with Epilepsy

Background: Association between epilepsy and psychiatry has a long history that required a comprehensive care of patients with epilepsy. This would include special attention to the psychological and social consequences besides the control of seizures.

Aim: This study aimed at identifying the frequency of psychiatric disorders and its effects on the quality of life in patients with epilepsy as well as studying different variables crucial in the development of concomitant psychopathology.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried on 140 patients with epilepsy, 100 healthy controls. All subjects were subjected to assessment using SCID1, SCID11, Quality Of Life in Epilepsy, EEG monitoring.

Results: 72 patients (51.4%) had psychiatric illness, significantly lower quality of life (t= 2.087, p 0.041). predictors for psychiatric disturbances were young age of epilepsy onset (Beta=.741 for depression, .368 for anxiety disorders), long duration of epilepsy (Beta=.263, Beta=.400 for anxiety, personality disorders), frequency, severity of epilepsy (Beta=1.076, .410, .975 for depressive, anxiety, personality disorders respectively). Temporal lobe epilepsy predicted personality disorders (Beta= -.471) while extra temporal epilepsy was associated with depression and anxiety disorders (Beta= .827, Beta=.900 respectively).

Conclusions: This work raises the importance of proper history taking and mental state examination along with identification of high-risk groups who are more prone to psychiatric comorbidity.