Comparison of the levels of anxiety, depression and hopelessness of patients with epilepsy and healthy individuals; [Epilepsili ve saǧlıklı bireylerin kaygı, depresyon ve umutsuzluk düzeylerinin karflılafltırılması]

Koç E.R.; Akmeşe P.P.

Comparison of the levels of anxiety, depression and hopelessness of patients with epilepsy and healthy individuals; [Epilepsili ve saǧlıklı bireylerin kaygı, depresyon ve umutsuzluk düzeylerinin karflılafltırılması]

Date

2011

Authors

Koç E.R.

Akmeşe P.P.

Publisher

Turkish Neurosurgical Society

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare depression, anxiety and desperation levels between epileptic patients and healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: 34 patients and 34 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Demographic features of all subjects were also recorded. Neurologic examination, electroencephalography (EEG) and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients were evaluated. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used for evaluation of anxiety, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used for evaluation of depression, and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) was used for evaluation of hopelessness. Results: The mean age of epileptic patients was 24.56 ± 8.49 years and of healthy subjects was 27.44 ± 5.66 years. Distribution of gender was the same in both groups, with 13 (38.2%) females and 21 (61.8%) males. There was no significant difference in demographic features between groups (p> 0.05). When continuous and instant anxiety levels of epileptic and healthy groups were compared, no significant difference was observed in instant anxiety levels (p> 0.05), but there was difference in continuous anxiety levels (p< 0.05) between the two groups. Hopelessness and depression levels were similar between groups (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that depression, anxiety and hopelessness levels were higher in epileptic patients when compared to healthy people. In addition, we conclude that seizure control with less drug use will reduce the level of trait anxiety in patients.