title: The psychosocial correlates of depressive disorders and suicide risk in people with epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite considerable effort to identify correlates of psychopathology in people with epilepsy (PWE), research has yet to identify consistent predictors. We tested the association between factors predicted by a model of adjustment to illness and psychopathology in PWE.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 123 PWE recruited from a tertiary referral centre, we examined the cross-sectional relationship between psychosocial factors (illness representations, coping, self-illness enmeshment and self-efficacy) with depression and suicide risk, while controlling for condition-related and demographic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analyses confirmed previous findings showing that condition-related and demographic variables did not consistently account for unique variance in depression although employment status was found to be a significant predictor of suicide risk. In multivariate analyses escape-avoidance coping and the illness consequences subscale of the illness representation questionnaire predicted unique variance in both depression and suicide risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provided partial support for a model of adjustment to illness. Specifically, those who believed epilepsy was serious and coped through avoidance were more likely to be depressed and report a current level of suicide risk. These results suggest that interventions that target coping strategies and illness representations may be warranted for PWE with psychopathology.
authors: The School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Australia. gandym@tcd.ie
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Gandy
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Sharpe
authors: Kathryn Nicholson
authors: KN
authors: Perry
authors: Laurie
authors: L
authors: Miller
authors: Zoe
authors: Z
authors: Thayer
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Boserio
authors: Armin
authors: A
authors: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012306:Risk; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult