Health concerns predicts poor quality of life in well-controlled epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
Most studies of quality of life (QOL) in seizure-free epilepsy patients suggest normal or near-normal function. Previous studies on QOL in well-controlled epilepsy have not investigated determinants for QOL from a database that includes a wide range of health related and epilepsy related variables, as well as demographical data, neuropsychological data, data from a comprehensive personality inventory and results from a QOL-questionnaire. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze predictors of QOL based on such a range of variables.


METHODS
Adults with epilepsy on antiepileptic (AED) monotherapy and without epileptic seizures for at least 2 years (n=158) were assessed with the QOLIE-89.


RESULTS
The main findings were that QOL in well-controlled epilepsy patients was in the normal range and that presence of substantial health related concerns was a significant predictor of poor QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings that substantial health concerns predict poor QOL may have clinical implications, as seizure-free epilepsy is a relatively benign condition, and careful information and counselling about this may alleviate health concerns and improve quality of life.
Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway. erik.hessen@nevropsykologi.no
Erik
E
Hessen
Morten I
MI
Lossius
Leif
L
Gjerstad
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D000927:Anticonvulsants