ABSTRACT
Depression is the most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorder among people with epilepsy. A variety of risk factors for depression among people with epilepsy have been identified; however, few studies have examined these risk factors over time. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between demographic characteristics, seizure-related factors, and psychosocial factors and depressive symptoms over 6 months. Three hundred and nineteen adults with epilepsy completed three surveys at 3-month intervals. Multiple linear regression was used with the baseline variables to predict depressive symptoms at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Employment status, social support, and stigma emerged as predictors of depressive symptoms at all three time points. Other factors that predicted depression symptoms in one or two time points were self-management, financial strain, and activity restriction due to seizures. The results indicate that multiple factors influence depressive symptoms among people with epilepsy.
Subject(s)
Depression/diagnosis , Depression/etiology , Employment , Epilepsy/complications , Epilepsy/psychology , Social Support , Adult , Aged , Analysis of Variance , Female , Humans , Linear Models , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Self Care , Time Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
The study was conducted to test the feasibility of a telephone-based self-management program for adults with epilepsy. The program was based on social cognitive theory and principles of motivational interviewing (MI). Twenty-two adults with epilepsy were recruited from hospital-based epilepsy clinics. The mean age of participants was 43 years, and 68% were men. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Those in the intervention group received a five-session intervention with a nurse trained in MI counseling. Following an in-person introductory session, the remaining four sessions were conducted by phone. Ninety-five percent of the 55 planned MI sessions and the 44 planned courtesy calls for those in the control group were completed, demonstrating high acceptance of the program. Participants were very satisfied with the program and noted the benefits of the telephone delivery method. Analysis of outcomes provided support for continued development and testing of the program.
Subject(s)
Epilepsy/therapy , Self Medication/methods , Telephone , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Counseling , Epilepsy/classification , Epilepsy/drug therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Motivation , Nurses , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Pilot Projects , Socioeconomic Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
People with epilepsy have various education needs and must adopt many self-management behaviors in order to control their condition. This study evaluates WebEase, an Internet-based, theory-driven, self-management program for adults with epilepsy. Thirty-five participants took part in a 6-week pilot implementation of WebEase. The main components of WebEase are My Log, a behavioral journal, and the Medication, Stress and Sleep Modules, which provide tailored information and feedback designed to prompt participants to assess their status with self-management behaviors, think about their behaviors and make a goal. In this article, we discuss the results of the feasibility, acceptability and usability assessments and the behavioral outcomes. The process results indicate that theoretical components that served as the program framework were successfully integrated into the program and that participants viewed WebEase as relevant, acceptable and easy to use. Additionally, participants showed some improvement in epilepsy self-management, adherence, sleep quality, self-efficacy and social support following the program. The initial results are encouraging and continued development of WebEase has the potential to facilitate education and self-management strategies among people with epilepsy.
Subject(s)
Consumer Behavior , Epilepsy/therapy , Internet , Self Care , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States , Young AdultABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to document seizure events associated with the use of a computer-based assessment and to describe the contextual factors surrounding these seizure episodes. Study participants were adults with epilepsy who were enrolled at research sites in Atlanta and Boston. Subjects were asked to complete a computer-based assessment at 3 time points. Fourteen seizure events were documented; they occurred during 1.6% of all completed assessments (896) and affected 4.4% of the participants (320). The mean age of participants who experienced seizure events was 41.4 years; about 70% were female, and 70% were white. A variety of possible precipitating factors for seizure events included hunger, fatigue, stress, and medication changes. Participants indicated computer use could have triggered their seizures in 2 instances. These findings suggest use of computer-based assessments may pose minimal risks for adults with epilepsy, particularly those without a history of photosensitivity epilepsy.
