Factors associated with health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression among young adults with epilepsy and mild cognitive impairments in short-term residential care.
BACKGROUND
This study examined associations of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), anxiety, and depression with medical and psychosocial variables. Participants were young adults with epilepsy and additional mild cognitive impairments in short-term residential care of the Bethel Institute, Germany.


METHODS
Thirty-six individuals were interviewed using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 31 (QOLIE-31), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the neuroticism scale of the Neo-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Medical as well as socio-demographic data were assembled from client files.


RESULTS
Regression analyses revealed neuroticism as the strongest predictor of HRQOL, anxiety and depression. The only variables that additionally explained a substantial proportion of variance counting for 6-10% in the three criteria were age at epilepsy onset and sex: epilepsy onset after the age of 10 years was associated with lower HRQOL and higher anxiety, men suffered from more depression than women.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuroticism as a personality disposition seems to be most influential on HRQOL and anxiety in people with epilepsy and mild cognitive impairment. The impact of sex and age at epilepsy onset on HRQOL, anxiety and depression of this epilepsy subpopulation should be further clarified.
Endermann
Michael
M
von Bodelschwinghsche Anstalten Bethel, Psychosozialer Dienst im Stiftungsbereich Behindertenhilfe, Remterweg 58, 33617 Bielefeld, Germany. michael.endermann@bethel.de
Zimmermann
Friederike
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult