A new study suggests higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicide in young patients with epilepsy. A review of an online survey accessing mental health symptoms, sociodemographic and epilepsy-related factors, coping strategies, and social support was undertaken by 144 young adults with epilepsy.
It was found that, the average age of seizure onset was 12.4 years, 80.6% of the participants fulfilled the criteria for anxiety, 76.4% for depression and 35.4% for suicidality. All of the three conditions were observed significantly more in females and individuals with delayed epilepsy diagnosis from the time of seizure onset. A positive correlation of avoidant-focused coping strategies was observed with anxiety, depression and suicidality while a negative correlation existed with problem and meaning-focused coping.