The association of seizure severity, depression and quality of life in women with epilepsy

PURPOSE: Depression has a profound influence on patients' reporting of seizure severity (SS) and is a potential confounder when evaluating the relationship between SS and quality of life (QoL). Women with epilepsy are a specific subpopulation at risk of developing comorbid depression in consequence of complications of pregnancy or motherhood due to epilepsy and antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. Aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between SS and QOL aspects in 82 women while controlling for depression.MATERIAL AND METHODS: All the women underwent clinical psychiatric examination for detecting comorbid depressive disorder (DD) according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 110th Revision (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria. Evaluation on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) supported the diagnosis. SS and QOL were measured by self-assessment scales such as Seizure Severity Questionnaire (SSQ) and Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31). Data processing and analysis were carried out using SPSS for Windows (Version 15.0). Statistical analyses included Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation and multivariate linear regression.RESULTS: SS correlated highly significantly with all QOLIE-31 domains' scores except medication effects' score. There was a strong correlation between SS and seizure worry (r=-0.766; p<0.001) and a moderate between SS and social function (r=- 0.590: p< 0.001) and SS and overall quality of life (r=-0.534; p<0.001). When the effect of depression was controlled for, SS regression remained significant for seizure worry (RІ=0.580; p