Access to healthcare and prevalence of anxiety and depression in persons with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicountry online survey
- PMID: 32920373
- PMCID: PMC7481834
- DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107350
Access to healthcare and prevalence of anxiety and depression in persons with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicountry online survey
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess access to healthcare and to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among persons with epilepsy (PWE) during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods: We conducted a multicountry online survey among PWE. Persons with epilepsy were invited to participate through various social media channels. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale were used to score anxiety and depression. Logistic regression modeling was used to investigate factors associated with anxiety and depression.
Results: Three hundred ninety-nine PWE were included (mean age: 38.22 ± 12.09 years), the majority were female (80.2%) and living in high-income countries (83.2%). Two hundred three PWE reported symptoms of a cold since January 2020. Nine (25%) of the 36 PWE tested for COVID were positive. A total of 72 PWE (19.6%) reported problems to obtain antiseizure medication (ASM), which in 25% of cases was directly COVID-related. Of the 399 PWE, 201 (50.4%) screened positive for anxiety according to the HADS; 159 (39.8%) and 187 (46.9%) PWE screened positive for depression based on the HADS and PHQ-9 scale, respectively. Female gender and financial problems were associated with both depression and anxiety. A planned follow-up consultation with the treating physician was associated with a lower risk of depression, whereas difficulties to access ASM treatment increased the odds of depression. In 65/137 (47.4%) PWE with a planned follow-up visit with the treating physician, this consultation was canceled.
Conclusions: Innovative approaches are needed to ensure continuity in access to ASM treatment. Healthcare workers should ensure continued follow-up, either through inperson or telehealth appointments, to timely identify symptoms of anxiety and depression and act accordingly.
Keywords: COVID-19; Epilepsy; HADS; Mental health; PHQ-9.
Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Declaration of Competing Interest All authors disclose no conflict of interest related to this study.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Impact of COVID-19 on the lives and psychosocial well-being of persons with epilepsy during the third trimester of the pandemic: Results from an international, online survey.Epilepsy Behav. 2021 Mar;116:107800. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.107800. Epub 2021 Jan 29. Epilepsy Behav. 2021. PMID: 33571838 Free PMC article.
-
Factors Associated With Mental Health Disorders Among University Students in France Confined During the COVID-19 Pandemic.JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Oct 1;3(10):e2025591. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25591. JAMA Netw Open. 2020. PMID: 33095252 Free PMC article.
-
Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms Among the General Population in China During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jul 1;3(7):e2014053. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14053. JAMA Netw Open. 2020. PMID: 32609353 Free PMC article.
-
Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in patients with epilepsy during COVID-19: A systematic review.Epilepsy Behav. 2021 Dec;125:108410. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108410. Epub 2021 Oct 30. Epilepsy Behav. 2021. PMID: 34781062 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Understanding and managing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on patients with epilepsy.Expert Rev Neurother. 2022 Feb;22(2):145-153. doi: 10.1080/14737175.2022.2031984. Epub 2022 Feb 7. Expert Rev Neurother. 2022. PMID: 35098850 Review.
Cited by
-
A systematic review on the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and emotional disorder symptoms during Covid-19: unearthing the potential role of economic concerns and financial strain.BMC Psychol. 2024 Apr 26;12(1):237. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01715-8. BMC Psychol. 2024. PMID: 38671542 Free PMC article.
-
Health care barriers and perceived mental health among adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based cross-sectional study.Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2024 Jan;44(1):21-33. doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.44.1.03. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2024. PMID: 38231090 Free PMC article.
-
An innovative model of access and triage to reduce waiting in an outpatient epilepsy clinic: an intervention study.BMC Health Serv Res. 2023 Aug 31;23(1):933. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09845-2. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023. PMID: 37653409 Free PMC article.
-
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on a Greek cohort of patients with epilepsy.Hippokratia. 2021 Oct-Dec;25(4):145-150. Hippokratia. 2021. PMID: 36743863 Free PMC article.
-
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with myasthenia gravis: A survey of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America MG patient registry.Muscle Nerve. 2023 Jan;67(1):25-32. doi: 10.1002/mus.27743. Epub 2022 Nov 14. Muscle Nerve. 2023. PMID: 36324261 Free PMC article.
References
-
- World Health Organization Epilepsy. https://www.who.int/health-topics/epilepsy#tab=tab_1 Available at:
-
- Fisher R.S., Acevedo C., Arzimanoglou A., Bogacz A., Cross J.H., Elger C.E. ILAE official report: a practical clinical definition of epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2014;55:475–482. - PubMed
-
- Josephson C.B., Jetté N. Psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2017;29:409–424. - PubMed
-
- Tellez-Zenteno J.F., Patten S.B., Jetté N., Williams J., Wiebe S. Psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy: a population-based analysis. Epilepsia. 2007;48:2336–2344. - PubMed
-
- Kanner A.M., Ribot R. Depression. In: Mula M., editor. Neuropsychiatric symptoms of epilepsy. Springer International Publishing; Cham: 2016. pp. 25–41.
