Abstracts

Rationale: Depression in epilepsy reduces quality of life. Boylan and colleagues found that depression predicted reduced quality of life more strongly than did seizure frequency. Endermann found that psychological distress was associated with both health and global quality of life, while seizure frequency was associated with most, but not all, of the health-related quality of life variables. Kobau et al. explored satisfaction with life domains including housing, education, neighborhood, and income among community-dwelling adults with self-reported epilepsy. They found that adults with epilepsy were more likely than others to report dissatisfaction in achievement (e.g., education), social interactions (e.g., family life), and physical health. Based on these works, we designed this study to assess mental distress and seizure activity in the same statistical model with measures of achievement, social interactions, and physical health, to determine their relative importance in the life satisfaction of adults with epilepsy.Methods: The sample was 108 adults with physician-diagnosed epilepsy, mild symptoms of depression, and without Major Depression. Participants were part of a depression prevention study of adults with epilepsy. These analyses were based upon their cross-sectional baseline responses upon entry into the study. Validated measures of satisfaction with life, depression, seizure severity, and sleep quality were used, plus items regarding days in the past 30 of poor physical health, living situation, and demographics. Satisfaction with life was regressed upon the remaining variables combined, using multiple linear regression.Results: The model including all variables (Table 1) was significant (F14,107 = 3.928, p < 0.001) and explained 37.2% of the variance in satisfaction with life. Depressive symptoms uniquely explained the most variance (11.2%). This was followed by seizure severity and living alone (5.2% each); being domestically partnered (3.6%); and living with relatives and being on disability (3.2% each). Depression and seizure severity were significantly negatively correlated with life satisfaction, while the remaining variables above were significantly positively correlated.Conclusions: As in prior studies, depression and seizure severity were associated with life satisfaction, with depression being stronger. Being partnered, living alone, and living with relatives were also associated with life satisfaction, as in prior research on the importance of social interactions. That living alone and being on disability were associated with life-satisfaction, while living with friends, working, and education were not, appears to conflict with prior research. Our model controlled for being partnered, seizure severity, and depression, which may explain this finding. These results confirm that mental distress is a priority for intervention among these people with epilepsy, but that assistance with living independently and relational support are also important for improving their satisfaction with life.