[Psychological assessment of drug-resistant epilepsy patients: affective factors and social support].

Abstract

Introduction: Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease, which is basically treated with antiepileptic drugs. Objectives: The aim of our study was to map the social support of drug-resistant epilepsy patients and to examine and compare affective factors, including depression and anxiety, with healthy controls. Methods: A total of 34 subjects (22 women and 12 men; age range: 21–66 years [M = 43.1, SD = 14.0]) were included in our study. 17 drug-resistant epilepsy patients (13 women and 4 men; age range: 21–66 years [M = 46.6, SD = 13.5]) and 17 matched control subjects (9 women and 8 men; age range: 23–59 years [M = 39.6, SD = 14.1]) participated in the study. Questionnaires used were Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Caldwell’s Social Support Questionnaire (SDS). Results: In the study sample, the level of depression and the level of social support showed an inverse correlation. Higher levels of depression were significantly related to lower levels of social support: difficult life situation (rs [15] = –0.498, p<0.003), practical support (rs [15] = –0.622, p<0.001), and the number of people the subject was in contact with (rs [15] = –0.513, p<0.002). There was a significant difference in the HADS total score between people with drug-resistant epilepsy and controls (t [24.4] = 3.40, p = 0.002, d = 1.16). Discussion: The maintaining and helping role of the social environment is essential in chronic drug-resistant epilepsy. In the absence of social support, the rate of depression increases significantly, which further deteriorates the quality of life of patients. Conclusion: The results of the present pilot study highlight the relevance of this problem, which may facilitate a detailed neuropsychological diagnosis of drug-resistant epilepsy patients, thereby increasing therapeutic efficacy. Orv Hetil. 2025; 166(1): 20–26.