Depression and anxiety are associated with reduced antiepileptic drug adherence in Chinese patients.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of depression and anxiety with adherence to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in Chinese patients with epilepsy.

METHODS:

A total of 184 Chinese patients with epilepsy, and without cognitive impairment, underwent psychometric tests: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Adherence to antiepileptic drugs was measured by the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Data on patients' demographic characteristics, disease characteristics, and treatment characteristics were also collected.

RESULTS:

The MMAS-8 indicated that 39.7% of the patients had low adherence, 34.2% had moderate adherence, and 26.1% had high adherence. Demographic, disease, and treatment characteristics were not significantly different between the low adherence group and the moderate-to-high adherence group. Thirty-six (19.6%) patients had moderate-to-severe depression according to the BDI, and 47 (25.5%) patients were considered anxious according to the BAI. A significant difference in depression scores was found between the low adherence group and the moderate-to-high adherence group (χ(2)=13.625, P<0.001). We also found a significant difference in anxiety scores between the two groups (χ(2)=8.331, P=0.004). Pearson's correlations indicated that depression scores (r=-0.281, P<0.001) and anxiety scores (r=-0.255, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with adherence. Negative correlations were found between BDI scores and items 2, 7, and 8 of the MMAS-8 (P<0.05); negative correlations were also found between BAI scores and items 3 and 6-8 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Depression and anxiety were associated with reduced antiepileptic drug adherence in Chinese patients. Addressing depression and anxiety among patients with epilepsy may help improve adherence to AEDs.

• Authors: Yi Guo, Xiao-Yan Ding, Ru-Yi Lu, Chun-Hong Shen, Yao Ding, Shuang Wang, Ye-Lei Tang, Mei-Ping Ding
• Journal: Epilepsy & behavior : E&B (Epilepsy Behav) Vol. 50 Pg. 91-5 (Sep 2015) ISSN: 1525-5069 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26209942 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants

Topics

• Adult
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Anxiety (drug therapy, epidemiology, psychology)
• Asian People (psychology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Depression (drug therapy, epidemiology, psychology)
• Epilepsy (drug therapy, epidemiology, psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Medication Adherence (psychology)
• Prospective Studies
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Young Adult