Prevalence and associated factors of psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy in the Casablanca–Settat region of Morocco: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Objective To determine the estimated prevalence of anxiety, depression, and anxiety–depression syndrome (ADS) and to identify the associated factors in Moroccan people with epilepsy (PWE). Method A cross‐sectional study was conducted among adult PWE (June 2021–December 2022) in the Casablanca–Settat region. PWE were interviewed by completing a questionnaire collecting sociodemographic and clinical data. Anxiety and depression were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Out of 21 points, a score ≥8 is in favor of considerable anxiety/depression symptoms and a sum of the two scores ≥15 indicates the presence of ADS. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 21.0. p‐values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant and logistic regression was performed to determine the associated factors. Results Among 294 PWE, the median age was 39 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 25.75–54.00). The median anxiety, depression, and ADS scores were 8 (IQR: 5.00–10.00), 7 (IQR: 4.00–10.00), and 15 (IQR: 10.00–20.00), respectively. Anxiety, depression, and ADS were revealed in 51.4%, 44.9%, and 51.0% of PWE, respectively. Depression was the only predictor for anxiety (aOR = 24.20; 95%CI: 12.45–47.01). Antiseizure polytherapy (aOR = 3.35; 95%CI: 1.72–6.54) and anxiety (aOR = 24.04; 95%CI: 12.12–47.67) were the factors associated with depression. The risk of ADS was increased by female gender (aOR = 2.83; 95%CI: 1.68–4.78), antiseizure polytherapy (aOR = 2.75; 95%CI: 1.62–4.65), structural epilepsy (aOR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.01–2.94), and the presence of concomitant conditions with epilepsy (aOR = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.16–3.31). Significance Our study reports high psychiatric comorbidity prevalence in epilepsy, which supports the bidirectional link hypothesis. Associated factors found are important in the prognosis and prevention. Plain Language Summary The neural mechanisms underlying epilepsy tend to expose PWE to psychiatric disorders. Our study aims to quantify the rate of psychiatric comorbidities and their predictive factors in Moroccan PWE. The estimated prevalences of significant symptoms of anxiety, depression, and ADS were 51.4%, 44.9%, and 51.0%, respectively. Depression was the predictor of anxiety. Antiseizure polymedication and anxiety were the associated factors with depression. The risk of SAD was increased by female gender, antiseizure polymedication, structural epilepsy, and concomitant diseases with epilepsy. Our results are important for considering the psychiatric aspect of PWE and improving their care and quality of life.

Keywords

• comorbidities
• epilepsy
• Morocco
• prevalence
• psychiatry