[Depression and anxiety symptom severity in a group of children with epilepsy and related factors].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the anxiety and depression symptom severity in a group of epileptic children and compare the results to healthy controls. Additionally, the frequency of psychiatric disorders in epileptic children was also assessed.


METHODS
The study compared 30 children, ranging in age from 8 to 16 years with epileptic disorder who attended a children's neurology clinic, with healthy controls using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Children's Depression Inventory scores and suicidal ideation. The MINI was administered to epileptic patients to determine the frequency of psychiatric disorders in this clinical group.


RESULTS
State anxiety scores of the epilepsy group were significantly higher compared to controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls in terms of trait anxiety and depression scores. In all 3 scales boys scored significantly higher than girls. No significant relationships were found between symptom severity, duration of epilepsy, age of seizure onset and depression and anxiety scores. Psychiatric assessments with the MINI identified psychiatric disorders in 26.7% of epileptic patients. Two epileptic patients reported past suicidal attempts however, only 2 patients were receiving psychiatric treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatric disorders were frequently observed in the group of epileptic patients. Psychiatric disorders occurred more frequently in boys compared to girls in this group. Clinicians should be more aware of accompanying psychiatric symptoms in epileptic patients and take the necessary precautions in the early period of the illness in an effort to prevent future mental health problems.
Bilgiç
Ayhan
A
bilgicayhan@yahoo.com
Yilmaz
Savaş
S
Tiraş
Serap
S
Deda
Gülhis
G
Kiliç
Emine Zinnur
EZ
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology