Seizure control and anxiety: Which factor plays a major role in social adjustment in patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy?

Author(s):Show less -

Paiva, Maria Luisa ^[1] ; Lima, Ellen Marise ^[1] ; Siqueira, Isabelle Bimbatti ^[1] ; Rzezak, Patricia ^[1] ; Koike, Camila ^[1] ; Moschetta, Sylvie P. ^[1] ; Vincentiis, Silvia ^[1] ; Alessi, Ruda ^[1] ; Khafif, Tatiana Cohab ^[2] ; Mendoza, Melanie ^[1] ; Valente, Kette D. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo HCFMUSP, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Lab Clin Neurophysiol, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo HCFMUSP, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Bipolar Disorder Program, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SEIZURE-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPILEPSY; v. 80, p. 234-239, AUG 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the presence of anxiety disorder and severity of anxiety symptoms in an extensive series of consecutive patients with JME and its association with epilepsy-related factors. In addition, we evaluated the impact of anxiety and clinical variables on social adjustment. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 112 (56.2 % females, mean age 27.2 years) patients with an electroclinical diagnosis of JME and 61 (52.4 % females, mean age 29.3 years) healthy controls. Anxiety symptoms were assessed by the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Social functioning was addressed with Self-Report Social Adjustment Scale (SAS). The patient group was also evaluated with a psychiatric interview. Results: Patients with JME presented more severe anxiety symptoms and worse social adjustment compared with controls. The presence of anxiety disorder and the severity of anxiety symptoms was associated with frequent seizures - generalized tonic-clonic seizures (p= 0.008) and drug-resistant epilepsy (p= 0.021). Regarding social adjustment, the severity of anxiety symptoms was associated with lower economic adjustment (p= 0.039), while the presence of anxiety disorder impacted family relationships (p 0.025). The presence of hard-to-control myoclonic seizure was associated with lower scores on work (p= 0.019), leisure activities (p= 0.008), family relationship (p= 0.022) and overall social adjustment (p= 0.038). Conclusion: Patients with JME have severe anxiety symptoms and worse social adjustment. Anxiety disorder and symptoms were associated with frequent seizures and drug-resistant epilepsy. Epilepsy-related factors and anxiety impaired distinct aspects of social functioning. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/09870-9 - The impact of cognitive rehabilitation on executive functions and social functioning in pacients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
• Grantee: Maria Luisa Maia Nobre de Paiva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 15/02796-2 - Benign Epilepsy of Childhood with Centrotemporal Spikes - Delineating the Executive Profile
• Grantee: Ellen Marise Lima
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master