W Curt LaFrance1, Stephanie Syc. 1. Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry (W.C.L.), Rhode Island Hospital, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI, USA. William_LaFrance_Jr@Brown.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In patients with active epilepsy, adverse medication effects and severity of depression are correlated with health-related quality of life, but seizure frequency is not. We sought to examine if the same pattern exists in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). METHODS: We administered seizure calendars, quality of life (QOL) scales, depression scales, and symptom checklists to 49 patients with video EEG-confirmed PNES. Data analysis consisted of performing Pearson correlation coefficients, scatter plots, and t tests. RESULTS: Depression and symptom scores significantly increased as health-related QOL scores decreased (partial correlation coefficient r = -0.73 for both comparisons), whereas seizure count was nonsignificant (partial correlation coefficient r = -0.19). CONCLUSIONS: As is seen in epilepsy, patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures demonstrate that higher depressive symptoms and somatic symptoms are independently related to worsening quality of life (QOL); however, seizure frequency is not. Seizure frequency is an important focus in patient care and treatment trials. The findings underscore the importance of, along with seizure counts, also examining QOL, depression, and somatic symptoms in patients with seizures.
BACKGROUND: In patients with active epilepsy, adverse medication effects and severity of depression are correlated with health-related quality of life, but seizure frequency is not. We sought to examine if the same pattern exists in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). METHODS: We administered seizure calendars, quality of life (QOL) scales, depression scales, and symptom checklists to 49 patients with video EEG-confirmed PNES. Data analysis consisted of performing Pearson correlation coefficients, scatter plots, and t tests. RESULTS:Depression and symptom scores significantly increased as health-related QOL scores decreased (partial correlation coefficient r = -0.73 for both comparisons), whereas seizure count was nonsignificant (partial correlation coefficient r = -0.19). CONCLUSIONS: As is seen in epilepsy, patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures demonstrate that higher depressive symptoms and somatic symptoms are independently related to worsening quality of life (QOL); however, seizure frequency is not. Seizure frequency is an important focus in patient care and treatment trials. The findings underscore the importance of, along with seizure counts, also examining QOL, depression, and somatic symptoms in patients with seizures.
Authors: W Curt LaFrance; Andrew S Blum; Ivan W Miller; Christine E Ryan; Gabor I Keitner Journal: J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2007 Impact factor: 2.198
Authors: W C LaFrance; G I Keitner; G D Papandonatos; A S Blum; J T Machan; C E Ryan; I W Miller Journal: Neurology Date: 2010-08-25 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Rozita Jalilianhasanpour; Benjamin Williams; Isabelle Gilman; Matthew J Burke; Sean Glass; Gregory L Fricchione; Matcheri S Keshavan; W Curt LaFrance; David L Perez Journal: J Psychosom Res Date: 2018-02-13 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Susannah Pick; David G Anderson; Ali A Asadi-Pooya; Selma Aybek; Gaston Baslet; Bastiaan R Bloem; Abigail Bradley-Westguard; Richard J Brown; Alan J Carson; Trudie Chalder; Maria Damianova; Anthony S David; Mark J Edwards; Steven A Epstein; Alberto J Espay; Béatrice Garcin; Laura H Goldstein; Mark Hallett; Joseph Jankovic; Eileen M Joyce; Richard A Kanaan; Roxanne C Keynejad; Kasia Kozlowska; Kathrin LaFaver; W Curt LaFrance; Anthony E Lang; Alex Lehn; Sarah Lidstone; Carine W Maurer; Bridget Mildon; Francesca Morgante; Lorna Myers; Clare Nicholson; Glenn Nielsen; David L Perez; Stoyan Popkirov; Markus Reuber; Karen S Rommelfanger; Petra Schwingenshuh; Tereza Serranova; Paul Shotbolt; Glenn T Stebbins; Jon Stone; Marina Aj Tijssen; Michele Tinazzi; Timothy R Nicholson Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2020-02-28 Impact factor: 10.154