title: Changes in seizure severity and quality of life in patients with refractory partial epilepsy.
abstract: This 6-month observational, prospective, multicenter study assessed the influence of changes in seizure severity on quality of life in patients with refractory partial epilepsy. Patients (N = 262) diagnosed with partial epilepsy and receiving two antiepileptic drugs as determined by usual clinical practice were enrolled in this study. The primary endpoint was the mean seizure severity score obtained from the Seizure Severity Questionnaire. Reductions in seizure severity were detected from baseline to months 3 and 6 (P<0.0001). Improvements compared with baseline were found for several secondary measures: Hamilton Anxiety and Depression scales (P<0.0001), most Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep subscales (P<0.05), and seven subscales of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31; P<0.0005). Seizure severity correlated directly with anxiety (P<0.0001) and inversely with QOLIE-31 measures (P<0.0001). In conclusion, reducing seizure severity with appropriate medication may lead to improvement in the overall quality of life of patients with refractory partial epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, General University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jerónimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sancho
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Iváñez
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molins
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: López Gómez
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Masramón
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants