title: Impact of the chronic use of benzodiazepines prescribed for seizure control on the anxiety levels of patients with epilepsy.
abstract: In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated the impact of the chronic use of benzodiazepines (BDZ) prescribed for seizure control on the anxiety levels of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. We assessed the anxiety level of 99 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy with (n=15) or without (n=84) BDZ for seizure control, using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) or the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). Independent risk factors for high anxiety levels were being a female patient (O.R.=2.93; 95% C.I.=1.05-8.16; p=0.039), having uncontrolled seizures (O.R.=4.49; 95% C.I.=1.66-12.11; p=0.003) and having a history of a psychiatric disorder (O.R.=4.46; 95% C.I.=1.63-12.21; p=0.004). However, there were no statistically significant differences in anxiety levels between patients utilizing or not utilizing BDZ prescribed exclusively for seizure control. We concluded that in our study, patients with chronic use of BDZ prescribed exclusively for seizure control showed similar anxiety levels than patients who were not using this class of drug. Additional studies are needed to define better strategies for the treatment of anxiety disorders in epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Medicine: Medical Science, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angélica Dal
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pizzol
authors.forename: Kelin Cristine
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Carlo Mognon
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mattiello
authors.forename: Ana Cláudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Carolina Machado
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: José Augusto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bragatti
authors.forename: Marino Muxfeldt
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bianchin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001569:Benzodiazepines