Shawn T Sorge1, Dale C Hesdorffer1,2, Jo C Phelan3, Melodie R Winawer1,4, Sara Shostak5, Jeff Goldsmith6, Wendy K Chung7,8, Ruth Ottman9,10,11,12. 1. GH Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A. 2. Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A. 3. Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A. 4. Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A. 5. Department of Sociology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 6. Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A. 7. Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A. 8. Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A. 9. GH Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.. ro6@columbia.edu. 10. Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.. ro6@columbia.edu. 11. Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.. ro6@columbia.edu. 12. Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, U.S.A.. ro6@columbia.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Rapid advances in genetic research and increased use of genetic testing have increased the emphasis on genetic causes of epilepsy in patient encounters. Research in other disorders suggests that genetic causal attributions can influence patients' psychological responses and coping strategies, but little is known about how epilepsy patients and their relatives will respond to genetic attributions of epilepsy. We investigated the possibility that among members of families containing multiple individuals with epilepsy, depression, the most frequent psychiatric comorbidity in the epilepsies, might be related to the perception that epilepsy has a genetic cause. METHODS: A self-administered survey was completed by 417 individuals in 104 families averaging 4 individuals with epilepsy per family. Current depression was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire. Genetic causal attribution was assessed by three questions addressing the following: perceived likelihood of having an epilepsy-related mutation, perceived role of genetics in causing epilepsy in the family, and (in individuals with epilepsy) perceived influence of genetics in causing the individual's epilepsy. Relatives without epilepsy were asked about their perceived chance of developing epilepsy in the future, compared with the average person. RESULTS: Prevalence of current depression was 14.8% in 182 individuals with epilepsy, 6.5% in 184 biologic relatives without epilepsy, and 3.9% in 51 individuals married into the families. Among individuals with epilepsy, depression was unrelated to genetic attribution. Among biologic relatives without epilepsy, however, prevalence of depression increased with increasing perceived chance of having an epilepsy-related mutation (p = 0.02). This association was not mediated by perceived future epilepsy risk among relatives without epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE: Depression is associated with perceived likelihood of carrying an epilepsy-related mutation among individuals without epilepsy in families containing multiple affected individuals. This association should be considered when addressing mental health issues in such families. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
OBJECTIVES: Rapid advances in genetic research and increased use of genetic testing have increased the emphasis on genetic causes of epilepsy in patient encounters. Research in other disorders suggests that genetic causal attributions can influence patients' psychological responses and coping strategies, but little is known about how epilepsypatients and their relatives will respond to genetic attributions of epilepsy. We investigated the possibility that among members of families containing multiple individuals with epilepsy, depression, the most frequent psychiatric comorbidity in the epilepsies, might be related to the perception that epilepsy has a genetic cause. METHODS: A self-administered survey was completed by 417 individuals in 104 families averaging 4 individuals with epilepsy per family. Current depression was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire. Genetic causal attribution was assessed by three questions addressing the following: perceived likelihood of having an epilepsy-related mutation, perceived role of genetics in causing epilepsy in the family, and (in individuals with epilepsy) perceived influence of genetics in causing the individual's epilepsy. Relatives without epilepsy were asked about their perceived chance of developing epilepsy in the future, compared with the average person. RESULTS: Prevalence of current depression was 14.8% in 182 individuals with epilepsy, 6.5% in 184 biologic relatives without epilepsy, and 3.9% in 51 individuals married into the families. Among individuals with epilepsy, depression was unrelated to genetic attribution. Among biologic relatives without epilepsy, however, prevalence of depression increased with increasing perceived chance of having an epilepsy-related mutation (p = 0.02). This association was not mediated by perceived future epilepsy risk among relatives without epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE: Depression is associated with perceived likelihood of carrying an epilepsy-related mutation among individuals without epilepsy in families containing multiple affected individuals. This association should be considered when addressing mental health issues in such families. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Authors: Maya Sabatello; Jo C Phelan; Dale C Hesdorffer; Sara Shostak; Jeff Goldsmith; Shawn T Sorge; Melodie R Winawer; Wendy K Chung; Ruth Ottman Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2015-08-20 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: S C Sanderson; M A Diefenbach; S A Streicher; E W Jabs; M Smirnoff; C R Horowitz; R Zinberg; C Clesca; L D Richardson Journal: Public Health Genomics Date: 2012-12-12 Impact factor: 2.000
Authors: Gary A Heiman; Kay Kamberakis; Richard Gill; Sergey Kalachikov; Timothy A Pedley; W Allen Hauser; Ruth Ottman Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2010-07-26 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: Kirsten M Fiest; Jonathan Dykeman; Scott B Patten; Samuel Wiebe; Gilaad G Kaplan; Colleen J Maxwell; Andrew G M Bulloch; Nathalie Jette Journal: Neurology Date: 2012-11-21 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Diana C Garofalo; Shawn T Sorge; Dale C Hesdorffer; Melodie R Winawer; Jo C Phelan; Wendy K Chung; Ruth Ottman Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2019-10-06 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: Jacquelyn Nakamura; Shawn T Sorge; Melodie R Winawer; Jo C Phelan; Wendy K Chung; Ruth Ottman Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2021-04-04 Impact factor: 5.864