Emotional distress in family caregivers of patients with epilepsy and its negative impact on patients' quality of life
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: The emotional distress that caregivers experience is not only detrimental to their own mental health but can also have far-reaching consequences on the patient's well-being and quality of life Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the anxiety and depression of caregivers of patients with epilepsy (PWE) and evaluate its effect on patient quality of life (QOL) Method: One hundred and fourteen pairs of patients with epilepsy (PWE) and their caregivers were enrolled in our study through consecutive sampling at neurology clinic in a Tertiary health institution in Jos Nigeria.Quality of life in PWE was evaluated with the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scale.Symptoms of anxiety and depression in caregivers were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).Frequency and chi square statistics were used as statistical analysis.Results: Of the caregivers, 54 (47.4%) had anxiety symptoms (HADS scores > 7) and 45 (39.5%) had depression symptoms (HADS scores >7).Mean WHOQOL-BREF Transformed scores (0-100) for each domain were 55.54 ± 12.59 in physical, 55.73 ±17.44 in psychological, 51.20 ± 27.34 in social, and 59.79 ± 21.74 in environmental domain.Mean score for overall quality of life (QOL) was 55.56 ± 15.49.Caregiver anxiety was significantly associated (p=0.000) with poorer PWE QOL in 43 (82.7%) of care givers.Caregiver depression was significantly associated (p=0.000) with poorer PWE QOL in 35 (67.3%) of care givers.Conclusion: caregivers of PWE are at high risk of experiencing anxiety and depression.Caregiver psychological status, especially anxiety was an independent predictor of poorer QOL for PWE.Therefore healthcare providers should take a holistic approach to managing epilepsy, considering not only the patient's health, but also the well-being of caregivers.This could include counseling, respite care, and other services to ease the emotional burden on caregivers.
Author: Allied Health Sciences
Language: English
Topic: Nursing care and research
Subfield: Pharmacy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4411069109