Prevalence and determinants of anxiety in patients with epilepsy during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background Epilepsy is one of the most frequent and serious brain disorders. The nature of the disorder and the unpredictability of seizures usually puts patients in a state of apprehension and anticipation, which creates a continuous condition of anxiety. COVID-19 pandemic has created a state of generalized anxiety all over the world. It is expected that patients with epilepsy (PWE) will suffer from more anxiety during the pandemic. This cross-sectional study was applied on 290 PWE. Data were collected by personal interview with each patient using GAD-7 scale for diagnosing anxiety and assessing its severity. We aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and to assess its risk factors in PWE during COVID-19 pandemic. Results We found that 52.4% of PWE suffered from anxiety. Not working, low financial status, fear of infection and death by COVID-19, fear of job loss, had job changes during pandemic, increased seizures rate during pandemic, increased ER visits, and lack of drug adherence during the pandemic, are significantly associated with increased risk of anxiety. Conclusions COVID-19 pandemic has a serious effect on the psychological and the physical wellbeing of PWE. There was an increased rate of anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in PWE with its subsequent burden on those patients. So, these patients are in a high need of care and support during the pandemic.

Stressors in hospitalized patients and their associations with mental health outcomes: testing perceived social support and spiritual well-being as moderators

“…Similarly to our results, McKenzie et al showed that pessimism and worthlessness were highly correlated with major depression among hospitalized, medically ill patients [ 55 ]. Additionally, in line with previous research [ 21 , 51 , 56 ], patients with high illness apprehension displayed a significantly greater level of anxiety. Our study thus extends the results of prior research conducted among general and specific subgroups of inpatients, suggesting their relevance among all Lebanese inpatients regardless of disease type and severity.…”

Calming effect of Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music for patients admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study

“…The effect of pandemic precautions on patients’ jobs, low financial status, fear of infection and death by COVID-19, fear of job loss, increased seizures rate during pandemic, increased ER visits, and lack of drug adherence during the pandemic, were significantly associated with increased risk of anxiety and depression. One study reported a rate of anxiety as high as 52.4% in PWEs as compared to a pre-pandemic rate of 20.2% ( 31 , 32 ). Other studies found depression rates ranging from 39% to 47% in PWEs during the pandemic as compared to a pre-pandemic rate of 22.9% ( 32 , 33 ).…”