Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Thai patients with epilepsy

Abstract

Background: Many studies have shown that the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with epilepsy (PWE) appears higher than that in general population. However, most epidemiological studies regarding psychiatric comorbidities among PWE were conducted in Western countries. This work aimed to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Thai PWE, including potential variables that could be associated with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital. A total of 170 patients (aged 18 years or older) diagnosed as having epilepsy by a neurologist were recruited at the outpatient neurology clinic. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Participants were evaluated for any psychiatric disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, using a structured diagnostic interview. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was determined. The associations between potential variables and the presence of psychiatric disorders in PWE were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests, t-test, and logistic regression. Results: Among 170 patients, 43 (25.3%) fulfilled diagnostic criteria for one or more psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of depressive disorders was shown to be highest at 17.1%, followed by psychotic disorders (8.2%), bipolar disorder (7.1%), anxiety disorders (5.3%), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (2.9%). Electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities in the temporal lobe was found to be a significant predictor of having psychiatric disorders in PWE (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 4.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47-10.92, P-value = 0.007). Conclusions: The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Thai PWE was higher than that in general population. Screening for psychiatric disorders in PWE is recommended, especially among those who have EEG abnormalities in the temporal lobe.

Comorbidity of epilepsy and mental disorders

“…Spread of psychiatric disorders in people suffering from epilepsy and in the general populationIn percentage ratio, out of the patients with mental illness(18), depressive patients were 27.8%, which fell within the range indicated in the world literature. They also have the highest relative share among all patients, as described by other authors.…”

“…Epidemiological studies have shown that psychiatric disorders are more prevalent among people with epilepsy than in the general population (14-17). (18). A recent study of 770 patients showed that depression and suicidal ideation were common in patients with epilepsy (19).…”

Prevalence and associated factors of anxiety disorder symptoms among people with epilepsy in Mekelle, Ethiopia, 2019: Institutional‐based cross‐sectional study

“…The result of this study conducted in Mexico (38.8%) (Lopez‐Gomez et al, 2008) and with the other study conducted in Canada (40%) (Pham et al., 2017), Brazil (39.4%) (Stefanello et al., 2011), United Arab Emirate (43.5) (Alsaadi et al., 2015), and Emanuel specialized mental health hospital of Ethiopia (33.5%) (Tegegne et al., 2015). Anxiety disorder symptoms in this study (38.3%) is higher when compared with the other study conducted in Iran (24.5%) (Asadi‐pooya, 2011), Australia (20.2%) (Scott et al., 2017), India (11.0%) (Rehman et al., 2017), Korea (15.3%) (Kwon & Park, 2013) and Thailand (5.3%) (Kuladee et al., 2019). In contrast, the result of these studies (38.3%) is lower when compared with the study conducted in China (57.0%) (Sujithra, 2014), Oman (45.0%) (Al‐asmi et al., 2012) and west Shewa of Oromia (47.8) (Takele & Adamu, 2019).…”

Prevalence of Bipolar Symptoms or Disorder in Epilepsy

“…A total of 17 studies were included in the final analysis. 7,8,16,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Figure 1 presents a flow diagram detailing the selection process. Out of the 17 studies, 7 provided prevalence estimates for only BS, 8 provided prevalence estimates for only BD, and 2 provided prevalence estimates for both BS and BD.…”