Factors contributing to comorbid depressive symptoms in adult people with newly diagnosed epilepsy: A 12-month longitudinal study

Abstract

ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the point prevalence of comorbid depressive symptoms from the time of newly diagnosed epilepsy to 12 months and to identify the factors contributing to comorbid depressive symptoms over a 12-month period in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy (PWNDE). MethodsA consecutive cohort of PWNDE from the First Hospital of Jilin University was recruited. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy scale (C-NDDI-E). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression models were used to confirm the factors contributing to depressive symptoms in patients. ResultsThe point prevalence of depressive symptoms among PWNDE slightly decreased from 24.8% at baseline to 22.3% at 12 months. A MoCA score < 26 was identified as an independent risk factor contributing to depressive symptoms at baseline (OR = 2.419, 95% CI: 1.093–5.350, P = 0.029) and at 12 months (OR = 3.007, 95% CI: 1.223–7.390, P = 0.016). The adjusted OR for depressive symptoms in female patients was 0.365 (95% CI: 0.171–0.779, P = 0.009) compared with male patients. Depressive symptoms at baseline (OR = 4.539, 95% CI: 1.973–10.445, P < 0.001) were identified as significant predictors of depressive symptoms at 12 months. ConclusionThere was a slight decrease in the prevalence of comorbid depressive symptoms in PWNDE over the 12-month period after epilepsy diagnosis. Cognitive impairment and baseline depressive symptoms were independent risk factors for comorbid depressive symptoms at 12 months.