Depression in patients with epilepsy during the COVID‐19 pandemic based on longitudinal self‐reporting

Sun, Lingqi; Mo, Qianning; Sun, Hongbin; Niu, Yulong; Si, Yang

Objective. The current study screened major depression in people with epilepsy (PWE) during the epidemic of the novel coronavirus‐related disease COVID‐19, in order to identify whether the outbreak generated negative psychological impact on PWE. Methods. A Chinese version of the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (C‐NDDI‐E), a self‐reporting depression inventory, was applied for rapid detection of major depression. Assessment was carried out online during three different periods (prior to, during, and after the outbreak of COVID‐19), with the aim of identifying changes in prevalence of depression and associated risk factors. Results. A total of 158 PWE were recruited into the study (48.7% female). The questionnaire completion rates were 94.3% and 70.9% during and after the outbreak, respectively. The prevalence of depression prior to the epidemic, as the baseline, was 34.8% and increased to 42.3% during the period of the epidemic. Towards the end of the outbreak, the prevalence declined towards the baseline (36.6%). Factors such as living alone (OR = 4.022, 95% CI: 1.158‐13.971, P = 0.028) and active seizures before the epidemic (OR = 2.993, 95% CI: 1.197‐7.486, P = 0.019) were associated with depression during the epidemic. Monotherapy appeared to be protective against depression (OR = 0. 105, 95% CI: 0.047‐0.235, P <0.001). Significance. Our results suggest that the pandemic exerts negative influence on PWE's mental health. Depression is one of the common psychological disorders that needs greater attention during this extraordinary period.