Document Type
Original Article
Abstract
Background and Objective: People with epilepsy often experience psychiatric comorbidity. This study aims to investigate the relationship among seizure regulation, psychiatric comorbidity, and antiepileptic drug use in a group of individuals with epilepsy in Pakistan.
Methods: This is an observational study conducted at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, over a period of six months (1st June – 31st Dec 2022). One-hundred-twenty people (sample size) with epilepsy above the age of 18 with confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy were included in the study who completed a questionnaire that assessed their seizure control, psychiatric comorbidity, and antiepileptic drug use. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25
Results: The majority of participants (80.8%) reported effective seizure control , while 19.2% reported ineffective seizure control . Regarding psychiatric comorbidity, 84.2% of the participants reported some form of psychiatric comorbidity, with depression being the most commonly reported (31.7%). In terms of antiepileptic drug use, 69.2% of the participants reported being on monotherapy, 28.3% reported being on polytherapy, and 2.5% reported not being on any medication.
Conclusion: People with epilepsy have a significant likelihood of experiencing psychiatric comorbidity which highlights the need for screening and therapy.
Recommended Citation
Khalid, Bushra; Waqar, Zaid; Jan, Zakir; Khan, Soban; Saddiqa, Amina; Irfan, Anum; Malik, Waleed; Naik, Samer; Afzal, Naheed; and Abbasi, Hira
(2023)
"Psychiatric Comorbidity in People with Epilepsy,"
Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS): Vol. 18:
Iss.
3, Article 2.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pjns/vol18/iss3/2
