title: Rates of DSM-IV mood, anxiety disorders, and suicidality in Australian adult epilepsy outpatients: a comparison of well-controlled versus refractory epilepsy.
abstract: Despite recent research into the impact of seizure control on mood disorders in epilepsy, it is often assumed that rates of psychiatric disorders are higher in people with refractory rather than well-controlled epilepsy. We assessed the point prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders and suicide risk using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) in a consecutive sample of epilepsy outpatients from a tertiary referral center. One hundred and thirty patients, whose epilepsy was categorized as well-controlled versus drug-treatment-refractory epilepsy (69; 53% well-controlled epilepsy) were recruited. High rates of mood disorders (n = 34; 26%), anxiety disorders (n = 37; 29%) and suicide risk (n = 43; 33%) were found. However, there was no difference in rates of disorders or suicide risk for those with refractory versus well-controlled epilepsy. These results underscore the importance of assessment and management of psychopathology in all people with epilepsy, regardless of their seizure control.
authors.affiliation: The School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia. gandym@tcd.ie
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gandy
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: Kathryn Nicholson
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Thayer
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boserio
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013405:Suicide; D055815:Young Adult