Abstracts

Rationale: Persons with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PWPs) tend to present with elevated depression and anxiety and report poorer quality of life (QOL) than persons with epilepsy (PWEs). Only a small number of studies have examined psychopathology in Spanish-speaking PWEs or PWPs. Spanish-speaking American PWEs have reported higher depression scores and lower quality of life scores than English-speaking PWEs. The purpose of this study was to compare Spanish-speaking American PWEs to Spanish-speaking American PWPs on measures of depression, anxiety and QOL.  Methods: This is a retrospective study of 80 patients (49 women, 31 men) with epilepsy (2004 to 2017) and 32 patients (28 women, 4 men) with PNES (2004 to 2017). All patients were Spanish-speaking and of Hispanic ethnicity. The diagnosis of epilepsy or PNES was confirmed with video EEG. All patients were administered a full neuropsychological battery in Spanish. Demographic and clinical (depression, anxiety, and quality of life) data were collected by a Spanish-speaking neuropsychologist. The Spanish versions of the Beck Depression Inventory II, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE 31) were administered.  Results: Patients with epilepsy (x̄ =19.23, SD 13.35) differed significantly from patients with PNES (x̄ = 24.19, SD 11.36); t(-1.76114), p= .04075 on a measure of depression (BDI 2). Patients with epilepsy (x̄ = 35.85, SD 8.86) also differed significantly from patients with PNES (x̄ = 32, SD 7.62); t(1.73411), p= .043975 on the Emotional Wellbeing scale from the QOLIE-31.Finally, patients with epilepsy (x̄ = 16.28, SD 12.37) also showed a trend toward lower scores on the BAI as compared to patients with PNES (x̄ = 21.58, SD 12.21); ); t( -1.63833), p=.052592.No other significant differences were noted on any other QOLIE 31 scale.  Conclusions: Spanish-speaking, Hispanic-American PWPs presented with significantly higher depression scores and lower emotional wellbeing scores as compared to Spanish-speaking, Hispanic-American PWEs. These results are similar to studies that have compared psychological functioning in English-speaking PWPs to those with epilepsy. Cross cultural studies such as this one, can contribute important information regarding the universality and particularities of PNES characteristics in different ethnicities.  Funding: No funding