Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Pediatric Epilepsy Patients
Corresponding Author
Alan B. Ettinger
Departments of Neurology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. A. B. Ettinger at Epilepsy Management Program, Department of Neurology, Health Sciences Center T12-020, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8121, U.S.A.Search for more papers by this authorDeborah M. Weisbrot
Departments of Psychiatry Private Practice, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorEdith E. Nolan
Departments of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorKenneth D. Gadow
Departments of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorSusan A. Vitale
Departments of Neurology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorMary R. Andriola
Departments of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorNicholas J. Lenn
Departments of Neurology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Departments of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorGerald P. Novak
Departments of Neurology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York
Search for more papers by this authorBruce P. Hermann
Departments of Pediatrics, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York; and the **Division of Neuropsychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Alan B. Ettinger
Departments of Neurology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. A. B. Ettinger at Epilepsy Management Program, Department of Neurology, Health Sciences Center T12-020, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8121, U.S.A.Search for more papers by this authorDeborah M. Weisbrot
Departments of Psychiatry Private Practice, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorEdith E. Nolan
Departments of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorKenneth D. Gadow
Departments of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorSusan A. Vitale
Departments of Neurology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorMary R. Andriola
Departments of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorNicholas J. Lenn
Departments of Neurology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Departments of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook
Search for more papers by this authorGerald P. Novak
Departments of Neurology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York
Search for more papers by this authorBruce P. Hermann
Departments of Pediatrics, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York; and the **Division of Neuropsychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Summary: Purpose: We assessed rates of symptoms of anxiety and depression among pediatric patients with epilepsy.
Methods: We administered the Revised Child Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), and Child Depression Inventory (CDI) to 44 epilepsy patients aged 7–18 years (mean age 12.4 years). Demographic, socioeconomic, and epilepsy-related information was examined in relation to depression and anxiety scores.
Results: No patients had been previously identified to have depression or anxiety. However, 26% had significantly increased depression scores and 16% met critieria for significant anxiety symptomatology.
Conclusions: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common among pediatric patients with epilepsy and appear to be overlooked by care providers.
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