Post-traumatic stress disorder in partners of people with epilepsy

AimsThe objectives of the present study were to examine whether living with an individual who suffered from epilepsy was a potentially traumatizing event and to identify predictive risk factors in developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).MethodsSix hundred fourteen respondents completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, the Crisis Support Scale, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. In addition, demographic variables were included in order to identify factors that might predict PTSD.ResultsThe percentage of the participants that fulfilled the symptom criteria of PTSD was 7.7%, and an additional 43.9% reported a subclinical level of PTSD. Clinical and subclinical anxiety was unveiled in 9.3% of the respondents.ConclusionPartners were at risk of PTSD when living with a patient with epilepsy. Identified variables that explained PTSD were frequency and types of seizures medication, side effects, and objective and subjective epilepsy severity, anxiety, and depression. High level of social support decreased the level of traumatic stress.

► Eight per cent of the partners of patients with epilepsy had PTSD. ► Forty four percent reported a subclinical level of PTSD. ► Clinical and subclinical anxiety was unveiled in 9.3% of the respondents. ► Seizure severity, anxiety, and lack of social support explained 52% of PTSD. ► Social support decreased the risk of developing PTSD.