title: Gender differences in depression, but not in anxiety in people with epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anxiety and depression are frequent comorbidities in people with epilepsy (PWE), but possible gender differences are often neglected. The aim of the present study was to analyze if men and women with epilepsy differ with regard to anxiety and depressive symptoms and to identify possible predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult consecutive PWE (N=302; 53% women) completed self-report questionnaires, including the depression module of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the anxiety module of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) and the subscales "medication effects" and "seizure worry" of the Patient-weighted Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31-P (QOLIE-31-P).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no gender difference in extent of anxiety (p=.532), which was mainly due to higher anxiety levels in men compared to the general population. The gender difference in depressive symptoms was significant (p=.009), with female patients being more affected. The most important predictors for anxiety and depressive symptoms were detrimental effects of medication (QOL medication effects) and of seizure worry (QOL seizure worry). Moreover, these predictors were more closely associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future intervention studies could show whether providing more information about the illness and medication effects may improve anxiety and depression. Our results suggest that such interventions should be tailored to the different needs of men and women.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy-Center Berlin-Brandenburg, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: verena.gaus@charite.de.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gaus
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy-Center Berlin-Brandenburg, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiep
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy-Center Berlin-Brandenburg, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holtkamp
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burkert
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Luisenstr. 57, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kendel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Epilepsy; Gender; Quality of life