Abstracts

Rationale: Depression is a highly prevalent psychiatric comorbidity in individuals with neurological disorders. Untreated depression can adversely impact disease management, treatment adherence and overall quality of life. Resources and tools available online offer an efficient and easily accessible treatment option potentially capable of improving patient outcomes. Methods: A scoping review of evidence-informed depression guidelines, resources and tools available online in relation to five neurological conditions [Epilepsy, Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and migraine] was conducted. The search strategy for all conditions was run between May 2015 and December 2015 depending on the neurological conditions in the following databases (from database inception): Pubmed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials and guideline databases (e.g. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, etc.). Grey literature was also searched, using Google, Google scholar and relevant organization websites (e.g. for epilepsy the American Epilepsy Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epilepsy program, Canadian League Against Epilepsy, World Health Organization, etc.). Resources were included if they described a publically available (and free) evidence-based depression resource, tool or guideline. Results: A total of twenty-five resources (tools, guidelines) were found for the five neurological conditions (epilepsy = 5, PD = 5, migraine = 6, TBI = 6 and MS = 3). The epilepsy resources included one consensus statement and four guidelines. The resources for migraine included three guidelines, one screening tool, one systematic review, and one website. For TBI, four guidelines, one screening tool and one website were identified. MS had one consensus statement, one guideline and one website. Lastly, the resources for PD included only guidelines. Conclusions: Evidence-based publically available depression resources (online tools, guidelines) for people with epilepsy, PD, migraine, TBI and MS are limited. The majority of resources identified were guidelines, which are targeted towards health care providers rather than patients. We only sought publically available, free resources that did not require hiring personnel to provide counselling, in order to ensure their sustainability. Given the benefits of using the internet to help improve patient self-management, it is important that high-quality, evidence-based online resources be developed and targeted for people with depression and neurological conditions including epilepsy. Funding: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Mathison Centre for Mental Health,Pfizer Award