A Study On The Quality Of Life And Psychiatric Comorbidities In Patients Of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy In A Tertiary Care Center In North India
Cankatika Choudhury1, Neera Chaudhry2, Sanghamitra Laskar3
1Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, 2Neurology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, 3Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital
Objective:
- To assess quality of life in patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy with special emphasis on social, psychological, relationships and vocational aspects of life
To screen and classify psychiatric co morbidities in patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
Background:
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is exemplary of a well-defined age-related genetic epilepsy syndrome representing 5-11 % of all epilepsy cases & 3-11 % of all adolescent epilepsy cases. 74% of JME patients have at least one major marker of unfavorable social outcome. One of the contributing factors maybe the distinct personality profile such as unsteadiness, lack of discipline and an indifference to their disease. JME though usually well controlled, may adversely impact the Quality of Life.
Design/Methods:
This was an observational cross – sectional study carried out over a period of 18 months in a tertiary center at Delhi. Sample size was 50. Patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy according to ILAE criteria 2001 were included in the study. They underwent a structured questionnaire to assess for the impact of JME on the Quality of Life. QOLIE-48 AD and QOLIE 31 P was used for adolescent and adult population respectively. Then they underwent M.I.N.I 7.0.2. Those testing positive for psychiatric disorders underwent DSM-5 categorization.
Results:
We found two important determinants of reduced Quality of Life in the adolescent patients – Physical Functioning [Mean score :57.36 ± 18.94] & Health perception [Mean score: 57.36 ± 18.94] respectively. Quality of Life -31 P score [Mean score:62.29 ± 25.02] was fair in (37.21 %) of adults. Academic underachievement was seen in 1(2%), 1(2%) public gatherings,2 (4%) expressed fear of breaking marriage . Anxiety was found in (10%) and depression in (6%).
Conclusions:
Anxiety and depression were the comorbid psychiatric disorders in the study population The concurrent presence of these comorbid conditions must be addressed to improve the quality of life.