Determination of prevalence of depression in an epilepsy clinic using a brief DSM-IV-based self-report questionnaire.
Depression in epilepsy is common, underrecognized, and an indicator of quality of life. The Patient Health Questionnaire nine-item depression scale (PHQ-9) is a self-administered questionnaire based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing depression. Using the PHQ-9, we determined that one-third of 263 patients seen in an epilepsy clinic had scores consistent with major depression. Seizure-free patients had lower depression scores than those with persistent seizures. Depression scores were not related to the number or type of antiepileptic drugs used. One-half of patients with scores consistent with major depression were not on antidepressant medication. The brevity of the PHQ-9 is conducive to routine screening of patients with epilepsy.
Seminario
Nicole A
NA
Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
Farias
Sarah Tomaszewski
ST
Jorgensen
Julie
J
Bourgeois
James A
JA
Seyal
Masud
M
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents