Relationship of Folate, Vitamin B12, and Homocysteine to Anxiety and Depression in Epilepsy Patients / 대한간질학회지

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression in epilepsy patients and to evaluate the relationship of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine to anxiety and depression. METHODS: Subjects were 39 epilepsy patients, and controls were composed of age- and sex-matched 20 healthy person. Anxiety and depression was evaluated by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The plasma folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. HADS-A and HADS-D scores between patients and controls were compared. Univariate regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine to anxiety and depression. RESULTS: In epilepsy patients, the prevalence rates of moderate to severe degree of anxiety and depression were 43.6% and 69.2% respectively. When compared with normal controls, the folate level of epilepsy patients was significantly decreased (p<0.05). Depression was significantly correlated with decreased serum folate level in epilepsy patients (p<0.001). However, association between depression and vitamin B12 or homocysteine was not statistically significant. Anxiety of epilepsy patients was not correlated with folate, vitamin B12 or homocysteine. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depression are common in epilepsy patients, and low serum folate level may be correlated with depression.

Factors Influencing on Fatigue in Patients with Epilepsy / 대한간질학회지

PURPOSE: Fatigue is defined as a tired feeling, lack of energy, or feeling of exhaustion. Antiepileptic drugs, seizure and frequent interictal epileptiform activity can cause fatigue in epilepsy patients. The aim of this study is to determine the rate of fatigue and to assess the influence of clinical and demographic factors on fatigue in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: Fatigue was evaluated in 39 epilepsy patients by using Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the influence of different factors on fatigue. RESULTS: In patients with epilepsy the mean score of FSS was 4.54+/-1.69, and the rate of fatigue was 66.7%. Among these patients, 23.1% had medium fatigue, and 43.6% had serious fatigue. The variable that strongly predicted a high FSS mean score was high seizure frequency. Conclusion: Fatigue is very common, and seizure frequency is an important factor influencing on fatigue in epilepsy patients.