Psychiatry Research EG

Introduction: Epilepsy affects close to 1% of adolescents. Adolescents with epilepsy (AWE) experience comorbid psychiatric disorders, the most common of which is depression. Epilepsy in adolescents is associated with a perceived stigma of epilepsy and with low self-esteem. Objective: This study aims to evaluate depression, perceived illness stigma of epilepsy, and self-esteem in a sample of AWE, and to evaluate the association between depression and the latter two variables in these patients. Patients and methods: This is a cross-sectional case-control study. Adolescents (14-22 years of age) with idiopathic epilepsy in Kasr Al Ainy outpatient epilepsy clinic were interviewed using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-I Disorders to assess the presence of depressive disorders. A total of 30 AWE with depression and 30 AWE without depression (as controls) were recruited, using convenient purposive sampling. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale was used to assess perceived illness stigma of epilepsy and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to assess self-esteem in both cases and controls. Patients with depression were also interviewed by Beck Depression Inventory. Results: Perceived internalized stigma of epilepsy was significantly higher and self-esteem was lower in the AWE with depression compared with patients without depression. Conclusion: Perceived illness stigma of epilepsy and self-esteem are associated with depression in AWE.