Self-reported memory problems in everyday activities in patients with epilepsy treated with antiepileptic drugs.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to assess everyday memory complaints in a large cohort of patients with epilepsy treated with antiepileptic drugs and to determine demographic, clinical, and emotional state factors associated with patients' self-perception of memory disturbances.


METHODS
This cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in routine clinical practice using the Questionnaire of Memory Efficiency (QME) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).


RESULTS
Six hundred sixty-one patients were recruited. The time since epilepsy diagnosis was 17.3 years (SD=12.5); the number of seizures in the past year 13.8 (SD=4.8); the proportion of patients free of seizures in the last year 42.5%; the proportion of patients with partial seizures 73.2%; and the proportion of patients on monotherapy 56.3%. Total QME score was 110.0 (SD=18.6). Depression and anxiety scores and polytherapy explained 38.7% of the QME variance.


CONCLUSIONS
Subjective memory functioning in this cohort of patients with epilepsy was relatively good. Complaints expressed by these patients are explained mainly by the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Salas-Puig
J
J
Neurology Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain. jsalasp@meditex.es
Gil-Nagel
A
A
Serratosa
J M
JM
Sánchez-Alvarez
J C
JC
Elices
E
E
Villanueva
V
V
Carreño
M
M
Alvarez-Carriles
J
J
Porcel
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants