Journal article
Depressive symptoms in youth with refractory epilepsy: Exploration of seizure, sociodemographic and cognitive factors
Epilepsy & behavior, Vol.171, 110608
10/01/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110608
PMID: 40743949
Abstract
Introduction
Rates of depressive symptoms in children and youth with epilepsy (CYE) vary among studies, ranging from 12 to 41%. The current study examined depressive symptoms in a large, multi-site sample of CYE who completed measures of emotional and behavioral functioning as part of a pre-surgical neuropsychological evaluation.
Methods
CYE ranged in age from 5 to 18 years old, had refractory epilepsy (n = 416), and underwent neuropsychological assessment, including standardized assessment of intellectual (IQ), emotional, and behavioral functioning using caregiver-proxy. Sociodemographic (e.g., age, biological sex, race/ethnicity, insurance status, distance from hospital) and epilepsy-specific characteristics e.g., seizure type, epilepsy duration, frequency, foci, number of anti-seizure medications [ASM], and MRI findings) were also examined.
Results
Elevated levels (i.e., at-risk or clinically significant threshold) of depressive symptoms were reported in 28.9 % of CYE. Youth with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE; 18.9 %) had significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms compared to youth with extratemporal epilepsy (11.7 %; OR = 1.73, 95 % CI [1.10, 2.73]; χ2 (2) = 7.08, p = 0.029). All other sociodemographic and epilepsy-specific variables were unrelated to levels of depressive symptoms. There was no difference in level of depressive symptoms for CYE with IQ below 70 despite being more likely to be in a minority racial/ethnic group, having public insurance, and experiencing more frequent seizures.
Conclusions
CYE are at risk of comorbid depressive symptoms, especially if they have TLE. However, other seizure and sociodemographic variables did not increase risk or resilience. Depression screening during routine epilepsy care is indicated, including for those CYE with low IQ.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Depressive symptoms in youth with refractory epilepsy: Exploration of seizure, sociodemographic and cognitive factors
- Creators
- S.B. Brothers - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterC. Wolfe-Christensen - Cook Children's Medical CenterH.J. Loblein - George Washington UniversityH. Kimbley - The University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterK.E. Patrick - University of WashingtonL N Sepeta - George Washington UniversityK.A. McNally - The Ohio State UniversityJ.I. Koop - Medical College of WisconsinR.L. Stilp - Children's Hospital of WisconsinA. Ailion - Boston Children's HospitalK. Boyer - Boston Children's HospitalA.M. DeCrow - Levine Children's HospitalP. Espe-Pfeifer - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsC.M. Cooper - Cook Children's Medical CenterM. Gabriel - Cook Children's Medical CenterG.M. Berrios-Siervo - University of Colorado DenverP.H. Duong - Northwestern UniversityE. Hodges - University of MichiganD.F. Marshall - University of MichiganG. Gaston - Medical University of South CarolinaM.M. Berl - George Washington UniversityJ.L. Wagner - Medical University of South CarolinaPediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium (PERC) Surgery Workgroup
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Epilepsy & behavior, Vol.171, 110608
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110608
- PMID
- 40743949
- NLM abbreviation
- Epilepsy Behav
- ISSN
- 1525-5050
- eISSN
- 1525-5069
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Grant note
- Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation Infrastructure AwardDistrict of Columbia Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center NICHD: P50HD105328-01
This work was supported by the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation Infrastructure Award (PI Berl) and the District of Columbia Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center NICHD P50HD105328-01 (PI Gaillard) .
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics
- Record Identifier
- 9984944723002771
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