The Effect of Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms on Quality of Life in People with Epilepsy

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the diagnosis and symptoms of adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder and quality of life in people with epilepsy.Methods:In this study, 50 idiop athic /cryp togen ic epilepsy patients aged 18-65 years, followed by University Hospital Neurology outpatient clinic, and 50 healthy controls were included. Adult-Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (A-ADD/ADHD), Symptom Checklist 90-Revised, Barratt Impulsivity Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Short Form (WHOQoL-Bref) were completed by the participants. The diagnosis of adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder was made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 diagnostic criteria.Results:The positive screening rate for adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder was 22% in people with epilepsy. Totally 6 (12%) people in the people with epilepsy and 2 (4%) people in the control group were diagnosed with adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder (P = .204). Significant differences were found in WHOQoL-Bref General, Physical, and Mental sub-parameters, A-ADD/ADHD-total and attention-deficit and related characteristics scores, Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 total and all subgroups, and Symptom Checklist general and all subscales between people with epilepsy and control groups. A moderate negative correlation was found between WHOQoL-Bref scores and A-ADD/ADHD-attention deficit, Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 total, Symptom Checklist General scores. Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 total, and adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disor der-a ttent ion-d efici t scores; there was a moderate positive correlation between each of the number of hospitalization and outpatient treatments. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to predict the dependent variable as WHOQoL-Bref General using the independent variables of epilepsy age of onset, Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 total, A-ADD/ADHD-attention-deficit, and Symptom Checklist general score. Accordingly, from the independent variables, the impulsivity total score predicts the dependent variable as negative and significant.Discussion:Impulsivity predicts general quality of life scores reported by people with epilepsy and reveals the importance of the attention defic it/hy perac tivity disorder clinic for people with epilepsy and its visible impact on daily functioning. It is important to evaluate attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder in these patients, as attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder comorbidity will create a serious burden for epilepsy.

Keywords

• adult with epilepsy
• attention deficit
• comorbidity
• impulsivity
• quality of life