The Relationship Between Quality of Life, Depression and Sexual Function in Epileptic Patients

Objectives: Epilepsy is defined as a chronic neurological disease that results from increased excitability of nerve cells in the brain and requires prolonged or lifelong treatment. Epilepsy is the most common disease seen in neurology practice in childhood and adolescence, and is the second most common disease after cerebrovascular disease in the elderly. In recent years, quality of life for patients with many diseases has gained importance, to increase patient satisfaction and standard of living, but also to reduce costs, and a number of assessment scales have been developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of epilepsy patients and related factors in order to determine the appropriate treatment methods to improve psychosocial findings. Methods: Patients aged 18 to 65 years who had experienced a complex partial or generalized epileptic seizure in the previous year and had been definitively diagnosed with epilepsy were included in the study. Demographic data were noted and evaluated. The Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) inventory and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were administered to all of the patients, as well as the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale. The statistical analysis was performed using NCSS 2007 and PASS 2008 statistical software (NCSS, LLC, Kaysville, UT, USA). Results: A total of 72 patients were included in the study; 45 were female. The mean age was 28.93 +/- 10.72 years and the mean duration of treatment was 8.14 +/- 8.40 years. In all, 34 patients (47.2%) had multiple seizures per year. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores and QOLIE-31 measurement of anxiety related to seizures, total quality of life, emotional well-being, energy/fatigue, cognitive status, and social function were analyzed. There was a negative correlation between the total scores of 52.8% (p <= 0.005). Sexual dysfunction negatively affected all subscales of quality of life in female patients, while total quality of life subscores were negatively affected in males (p<0.005). Conclusion: pilepsy patients and their families should be well informed about the disease and trained extensively about living with seizures beginning at the diagnosis stage. A multidisciplinary approach to treatment that includes the various factors that can affect quality of life will lead to more effective treatment and follow-up.