Prevalence and Underrecognition of Depression in Patients with Epilepsy: The Experience of the Chilean League Against Epilepsy
Abstract number :
3.214
Submission category :
Comorbidity-Adults
Year :
2006
Submission ID :
6876
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2006 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Nov 30, 2006, 06:00 AM
Authors :
1Alejandro de Marinis, 2Francisco Bustamante, 1Claudia Asmad, 1Loreto Olate, 2Francisca Grob, 2Macarena Parker, 3Ines Delgado, 1Vilma Ojeda, 1Veronica Ferna
Depression is the most common psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy, with major impact in quality of life. Recent publications raise concerns of underrecognition of depression in patients with epilepsy. This issues have not been systematically assesed in chilean patients with epilepsy.
We evaluate the prevalence and underrecognition of depression in patients with epilepsy attending the epilepsy clinic of the Chilean League Against Epilepsy, We evaluated 200 consecutive adult patients with epilepsy. Depression was diagnosed using a validated CIDI diagnostic interview. The clinical recognition of depression was determined by inspection of medical records. All patients gave their written informed consent., A diagnosis of Major Depression was established in 44 / 200 patients (22%). In 33 /44 (75%) depression was unrecognized. 21/44 (47,7%) have been seizure free for the last year., Depression is highly prevalent and underrecognized in chilean patients with epilepsy. Validated , simple and cost effective screening instruments for the detection of depression would be a major contribution to improve quality of life of patients with epilepsy.,
Neuroimaging