Symptoms of Depression and Associated Risk Factors in Patients with Epilepsy in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background: Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its factors associated in patients with epilepsy at the Yalgado Ouedraogo University Teaching Hospital (Burkina Faso). Methods: This was a prospective 6-month study carried out in Neurology Department from February to July 2017. This study included all the patients with epilepsy aged over 18 years. Sampling was non-random with systematic recruitment. The informed consent of the patient was required. All included patients were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale and Gererd questionnaire. The analysis of the data was performed by the software Epi Info version 7. Results: One hundred two patients with epilepsy with a mean age of 41.47 ± 16.67 years were included. The symptoms of depression were present in 67.3% of patients with epilepsy with a mean age of 42.59 ± 17 years, and 78 years (19 - 88 years). Depression was mild in 35%, moderate in 34% and severe in 31%. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was respectively 57.6% in male patients and 79% in female gender. The mean score of HDRS for depression was 15.62 ± 4.26. Hypochondriasis (97%), work and interest (95.5%) and anxiety-somatic (94.1%) were the most symptoms of HDRS-17. Higher scores were found for work and interests, anxiety-psychic and hypochondriasis. There was a significant association between perceived stigma, female gender, seizure frequency and presence of depression among patients with epilepsy (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study had found a high prevalence of depression among patients with epilepsy. High perceived stigma, female gender and seizure frequency were the most associated factors with depressive symptoms.