Open AccessQuality of life and mood assessment in conservatively treated cavernous malformation‐related epilepsy
Author(s) -
Rauschenbach Laurèl,
Bartsch Pauline,
Santos Alejandro N.,
Lenkeit Annika,
Darkwah Oppong Marvin,
Wrede Karsten H.,
Jabbarli Ramazan,
Chmielewski Witold X.,
Schmidt Börge,
Quesada Carlos M.,
Forsting Michael,
Sure Ulrich,
Dammann Philipp
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.2595
Subject(s) - psychosocial , anxiety , quality of life (healthcare) , hospital anxiety and depression scale , epilepsy , medicine , mood , depression (economics) , visual analogue scale , population , mood disorders , psychiatry , pediatrics , physical therapy , nursing , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Background To estimate the quality of life, anxiety, depression, and illness perception in patients with medically treated cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) and associated epilepsy. Methods Nonsurgically treated patients with CCM‐related epilepsy (CRE) were included. Demographic, radiographic, and clinical features were assessed. All participants received established questionnaires (short‐form 36 health survey, SF‐36; hospital anxiety and depression score, HADS‐A/D; visual analogue scale score, VAS) assessing the functional and psychosocial burden of disease. To some extent, calculated values were compared with reference values from population‐based studies. Test results were related to seizure control. Results A total of 37 patients were included. Mean age was 45.8 ± 14.4 years, and 54.1% were female. Diagnosis of CRE was significantly associated with attenuated quality of life and increased level of anxiety, affecting physical and psychosocial dimensions. The assessment of illness perception identified considerable burden. HADS was significantly associated with VAS and SF‐36 component scores. Efficacy of antiepileptic medication had no restoring impact on quality of life, anxiety, depression, or illness perception. Conclusions CRE negatively influences quality of life and mood, independent of seizure control due to antiepileptic medication. Screening for functional and psychosocial deficits in clinical practice might be useful for assessing individual burden and allocating surgical or drug treatment.