The Liverpool Adverse Events Profile: relation to AED use and mood.
OBJECTIVE
The Liverpool Adverse Events Profile (LAEP) is used as a systematic measure of adverse effects from antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). This study evaluated LAEP in newly diagnosed seizure patients, and examined the relation between LAEP, anxiety, and depression.


METHODS
Seizure patients seen in the two First Seizure Clinics were categorized into group A (AEDs commenced after assessment), group B (AEDs commenced before assessment), and group C (no AEDs). LAEP and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were completed at baseline (n=164) and 3 months (n=103). Each LAEP symptom was assessed for baseline frequency, 3-month frequency, and frequency change over a 3-month period. Global scores for LAEP and HADS were analysed at baseline and 3 months.


RESULTS
Symptom-reporting patterns were similar between groups. However, increased frequency over a 3-month period occurred for 12 symptoms in group A, 10 in group B, and one in group C. Global LAEP and HADS showed no significant group differences at baseline or changes over a 3-month period. Multiple regression revealed that HADS scores predicted LAEP global scores better than did AED status. Multivariate analyses of variance demonstrated that increased reporting of 16 of 19 LAEP symptoms was significantly related to higher anxiety and depression rates.


CONCLUSIONS
In a First Seizure Clinic, LAEP detects changes in specific symptom frequencies when used as a repeated, symptom-by-symptom measure. Increased symptom frequency is associated with diagnostic category/AED treatment, anxiety, and depression. Global LAEP scores do not illustrate differences in symptom reporting between patients.
Panelli
Rosemary June
RJ
Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Camberwell, Australia. rpanelli@swin.edu.au
Kilpatrick
Christine
C
Moore
Susan M
SM
Matkovic
Zelko
Z
D'Souza
Wendyl J
WJ
O'Brien
Terence J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000927:Anticonvulsants