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Epilepsy and family history of psychiatric disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication (NCS-R)
Thesis

Epilepsy and family history of psychiatric disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication (NCS-R)

Shawna Calhoun
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Drexel University
Jun 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3584
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Calhoun_Shawna_2010216.05 kB
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Abstract

Psychiatric Disorders Family History Comorbidity Epilepsy Public Health
Background: Epilepsy has been estimated to affect fifty million people globally. Little is known regarding the risk factors for and, therefore, prevention of epilepsy. Previous research has supported the association between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders as being an epiphenomenon. Objective: Assess the association of epilepsy with psychiatric disorders, age of mental health symptom onset, and family history of psychiatric disorders. Methods: A secondary data analysis was performed of the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) data. The survey was completed by 9,282 English-speaking adult residents of the continental United States between February 2001 and April 2003, of which 5,721 were asked about epilepsy status. Comparisons were performed between respondent subgroups of the following: prevalence of DSM-IV lifetime mental disorders, age of mental health symptom onset, and family history of psychiatric disorders. Results: In the NCS-R sample, persons with epilepsy were found to have a higher prevalence of any DSM-IV lifetime disorder, 86.03/100 in people with epilepsy and 76.01/100 in those without, along with an earlier onset of mental health symptoms (p<0.01). At the DSM-IV group level, only substance abuse and impulse control disorders were found to be significantly higher in persons with epilepsy (p<0.05). The majority of respondents with epilepsy had an onset of mental health symptoms preceding their epilepsy diagnosis, however this temporal relationship varied with age of epilepsy diagnosis (p<0.0001). Of the psychiatric disorders reported, a statistically significant association was found exclusively between family history of depression and epilepsy status (p=0.0511). Conclusion: Multiple facets of psychiatric disorders appear to be associated with epilepsy status. Future research is needed to assess these associations using a larger case population, in addition to testing the biological pathways of these associations.

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