Using the hospital anxiety and depression scale in people with epilepsy: Is overlapping symptomatology a problem?

ABSTRACT: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is designed to screen for anxiety and depression in clinical settings. However, some items on the HADS may reflect symptoms associated with epilepsy and antiseizure medications rather than anxiety and depression. This study examined whether these items on the HADS contributed disproportionately to the reporting of anxiety and depression on the HADS in people with epilepsy (PWE). As part of a routine clinical assessment, 546 adults with epilepsy completed the HADS. In our sample, 56.2% reported elevated levels of anxiety, and 27.3% reported symptoms of depression with a score of 8 or more on the respective subscales. Scores on the anxiety and depression subscales were not associated with age, sex or epilepsy type. We did not find a relationsh

SUBMITTER: Tye E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10792759 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature