Correlates of depression and quality of life among patients with epilepsy in Nigeria.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorders (MDD) and its relationship to Quality of life.

Design: A cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: Out-Patient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Subjects: Patients with diagnosis of Epilepsy with Electroencephalogram (EEG) confirmation.

Outcome Measures: Depression and Quality of life.

Results: The prevalence of current MDD was 11.9 %, and patients having at least 1 seizure per week were 5 times more likely to develop MDD (OR = 5.104, p = 0.014). The mean (SD) QOLIE-31 scores was 77.98 (13.32), with presence of MDD (β = -11.101, p = 0.0001); having at least 1 seizure/week (β = -6.653, p = 0.037) being independent predictors.

Conclusion: Depression is a common comorbidity in patients with epilepsy and is associated with a lower quality of life.