Abstract

MENESES, Rute F.; PAIS-RIBEIRO, José  and  SILVA, António Martins da. Quality of life, anxiety and depression: an example of indicators and relations in epilepsy. Temas psicol. [online]. 2008, vol.16, n.1, pp. 133-144. ISSN 1413-389X.

The identification of changeable quality of life (QOL) predictors could be used to develop adequate QOL promotion strategies for epilepsy patients. Consequently, the aim of the present study is to compare the predictive power of different anxiety and depression indicators (scores vs. items). To do so, 99 individuals with clinical evidence of focal epilepsy were assessed with a Socio-demographic and Clinical Questionnaire, the SF-36 v1.0, the Cognitive Function Scale, the Seizure Control Scale (QOL), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; anxiety/depression). The predictive power (adjusted R square) of the HADS anxiety and/or depression scores varied between .161 (Role Emotional) and .568 (Mental Health); none of these HADS scores was a predictor of Seizure Control. The predictive power (adjusted R square) of subgroups of HADS items varied between .115 (Seizure Control) and .683 (Mental Health). The results indicate that the traditional/global HADS anxiety and depression scores are not as good QOL predictors as subgroups of HADS items. This results support a different way of exploring the data collected in clinical and research settings.

Keywords : Quality of life; Anxiety; Depression; Epilepsy.