Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: February | Volume: 7 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 183-186
Psychiatric Co-Morbidities and Their Association in Epilepsy
Kushel Verma1, Naresh Chauhan2
1Medical Officer (M.D. Psychiatry) Regional Hospital, Solan, H.P.
2Senior Resident, Department of Nephrology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla
Corresponding Author: Naresh Chauhan
ABSTRACT
Background: Psychiatric co- morbidities are often diagnosed in the patients with epilepsy and results in impairment of quality of life as well hinder with the disease treatment. Their early screening is important to prevent complications.
Aim: Evaluation of psychiatric co-morbidities among epilepsy patients and their relation with demographic variables.
Methods: The diagnosed epileptic patients (age >15 years of either sex) visiting outpatient clinic of Department of Neurology at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla between August 2017 to July 2018 were included in the study. The patients with any other chronic medical illness, neurocognitive disorders, mental retardation, previously diagnosed with psychiatric disorder, refusing to give informed consent, and pregnant women diagnosed with epilepsy were excluded from the study. Diagnosis of psychiatric disorders was made according to International classification of disease-10 (ICD-10).
Results: 30% of the patients in our study had psychiatric co-morbidity. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) was found in maximum number of patients 8.1% followed by 4.8% patients each with Mixed Anxiety and Depression, Psychosis and Major Depressive Episode. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was found in 1.4% and adjustment disorder and panic Disorder were found in 2.4% patients of each disorder. Except male sex, other demographic factors were not associated with psychiatric co-morbidity.
Conclusion: Epileptic patients should be screened for psychiatric co-morbidities in early stage.
Keywords: Epilepsy, Psychiatric co-morbidity, ICD-10
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