The influence of comorbid depression on quality of life for people with epilepsy

The impact of depression on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for people with epilepsy was evaluated using a postal survey that assessed HRQOL, depression, and seizure severity (N = 501). QOLIE-89 scores were significantly reduced by comorbid depression (all P < 0.0001) for all types of seizures. People with predominantly major, partial, and minor seizures had significantly poorer HRQOL if they had mild-moderate or major depression (all P < 0.0001). People with any type of recent seizure had significantly poorer HRQOL in all domains than people who were seizure-free for 3 months. Differences between groups by depression category were clinically significant (> 12 points). Depression (r = -0.72), seizure bothersomeness (r = -0.54), seizure severity (r = -0.37), and days disabled with seizures (r = -0.65) were significantly correlated with poorer HRQOL in all domains than found for nondepressed patients (all subscales P < 0.0001). Clinical depression is significantly associated with poorer HRQOL among people with all types of seizures. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.