Frequency of Depression and Anxiety among Patients with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures

  • Nahid Ashjazadeh Shiraz Neurosciences Research Center, Neurology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  • Kaveh Kashani Department of Neurology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
  • Ali Sahraian Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
  • Ali Akbar Asadi-Pooya Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v3i4.224
Keywords: Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES), Anxiety, Depression

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) particularly in patients with epilepsy poses a challenge to physicians to care. This study is aimed at determining the frequency of depression and anxiety among Iranian patients with PNES. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with PNES and one hundred age-and-sex matching healthy controls were enrolled in this study from January 2010 to January 2011. Patients had at least one psychogenic non-epileptic seizure recorded during video-EEG monitoring in an epilepsy care unit of Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Demographic data were collected and Iranian validated versions of Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory-2 questionnaires were used. Statistical analysis was conducted using Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson’s chi-square test and independent T test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of 60 PNES patients, 37 (61.7%) were female and 23 (38.3%) were male (P=0.767) and mean of the patients’ age was 24.9 ± 6.6 years (P=0.674). Among controls, 64 (64%) persons were female and 36 (36%) were male; mean age was 24.4 ± 2.1 years. Forty two patients (70%) and 36 controls (36%) had moderate to severe depression (P=0.001). Thirty eight patients (63.4%) and 10 controls (10%) had medium to high levels of anxiety (P=0.001). Conclusion: Frequency of depression and anxiety among patients with PNES is much higher than general population. Prompt diagnosis of these two common coexisting psychiatric disorders may help physicians for better evaluation and appropriate management of PNES patients. [GMJ. 2014;3(4):202-6]

Author Biographies

Nahid Ashjazadeh, Shiraz Neurosciences Research Center, Neurology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Dr. Nahid Ashjazadeh, Associate Professor of Neurology, Shiraz Neurosciences Research Center, Department of Neurology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Kaveh Kashani, Department of Neurology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Department of Neurology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 
Ali Sahraian, Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Ali Akbar Asadi-Pooya, Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.

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Published
2014-11-28
How to Cite
Ashjazadeh, N., Kashani, K., Sahraian, A., & Asadi-Pooya, A. A. (2014). Frequency of Depression and Anxiety among Patients with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures. Galen Medical Journal, 3(4), 202-6. https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v3i4.224
Issue
Vol. 3 No. 4 (2014): December 2014
Section
Original Article

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