Psychopathologic disorders associated with epilepsy at the Yaoundé General Hospital.

Abstract

Introduction
The psychopathological disorders associated with epilepsy are very specific entities that disrupt patients‘ lifevquality. The main challenges are diagnostic and therapeutic, especially in countries with limited resources.
Objective
To determine the frequency of psychopathological disorders and associated factors in patients with epilepsy, followed at the neurology unit of the Yaoundé General Hospital.
Methods
For 6 months, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in adults aged 18 and above with epilepsy. Socio-demographic data, patient history, epilepsy history, treatment and progression were collected using a structured questionnaire. GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorders 7) was used for generalized anxiety, PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire 9) and NDDI-E (Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy) were used for depression. The diagnostic criteria of Logsdail and Toone were used for post-ictal psychosis, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in the fourth revised version for interictal psychosis.
Results
Eighty-three patients were included. The average age of patients is 33 ± 12.99 years. Depression was the most common psychiatric comorbidity (63.8%), followed by anxiety (37.3%), and psychotic disorders (20.5% for postictal psychosis and 9.6% for inter-ictal psychosis). Female gender, onset of seizure bursts, young age, central nervous system infections, were factors associated with these commodities in this population.
Conclusion
Psychopathological disorders are common in our series. Specific psychotic disorders are found in 1/5 of the patients.