title: Depression correlates with quality of life in people with epilepsy independent of the measures used.
abstract: A number of studies have suggested that depressed mood is one of the most important predictors of quality of life (QoL) in patients with epilepsy. However, the QoL measure used in previous studies was limited to the Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE) scales. It could be questioned whether correlation of QOLIE with measures of depression is influenced by the properties of the instruments used rather than being a valid effect. By using visual analogue scales, the current study aimed to clarify whether depression and QoL are truly correlated in patients with epilepsy.
  
  
  
  Data from a sample of 261 outpatients with epilepsy attending the Epilepsy Clinics of the Atkinson Morley Outpatient Department, St George's Hospital in London, were analyzed. Patients were screened using the European Quality-of-Life scale (EQ-5D-3L) which includes an overall visual analogue score (EQ-VAS), the Emotional Thermometer (ET7), the Beck Depression inventory-II (BDI-II), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), and the Major Depression inventory (MDI).
  
  
  
  Depression was found to significantly correlate with EQ-VAS score with r coefficient ranging from 0.42 to 0.51 and r(2) coefficients ranging between 0.18 and 0.26. In addition, we identified patients who were depressed according to DSM-IV criteria (MD) and those with atypical forms of depression (AD). The EQ-5D-3L scores in these subjects compared with those without depression (ND) showed a different impact of AD and MD on QoL.
  
  
  
  The relationship between depression and QoL in people with epilepsy has been demonstrated to be a robust and valid effect, not a result of potential bias of the specific measures used. However, the strength of the association is influenced by the individual instrument. Atypical or subsyndromic forms of depression are as relevant as DSM-based depression in terms of impact on QoL.
authors: Department of Neuropsychiatry, South West London & St George's MH NHS Trust, St George's Hospital, London, UK; Epilepsy Group, Atkinson Morley Regional Neuroscience Centre, St George's Hospital, London, UK; Institute of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, St George's University of London, UK. Electronic address: Niruj.Agrawal@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk.
authors: Niruj
authors: N
authors: Agrawal
authors: Department of Neuropsychiatry, South West London & St George's MH NHS Trust, St George's Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Jacob S
authors: JS
authors: Bird
authors: Institute of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, St George's University of London, UK; Department of Neurology, Wagner-Jauregg Neuroscience Centre, Linz, Austria.
authors: Tim J
authors: TJ
authors: von Oertzen
authors: Epilepsy Group, Atkinson Morley Regional Neuroscience Centre, St George's Hospital, London, UK; Institute of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, St George's University of London, UK.
authors: Hannah
authors: H
authors: Cock
authors: Leicestershire Partnership Trust, Leicester and Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, UK.
authors: Alex J
authors: AJ
authors: Mitchell
authors: Epilepsy Group, Atkinson Morley Regional Neuroscience Centre, St George's Hospital, London, UK; Institute of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, St George's University of London, UK.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Mula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
keywords: Depression; Emotional thermometer; Epilepsy; Quality of life; Screening