The social context of anxiety and depression: Exploring the role of anxiety and depression in the lives of Australian adults with epilepsy

- We analyzed HADS predictors from a community sample of people with epilepsy.
- The main factor to influence anxiety and depression was social aspects of stigma.
- Being in employment was also associated with reduced anxiety and depression.
- Also, seizure control and the number of epilepsy drugs influenced HADS scores.

AimTo examine key determinants of anxiety and depression in a community sample of people with epilepsy.MethodData were analyzed from the 2010 Australian Epilepsy Longitudinal Survey, examining living with epilepsy in Australia. The HADS was analyzed, and Pearson correlations and block recursive regression were undertaken to identify key associations between anxiety, depression, and a range of variables and to identify key determinants of anxiety and depression.ResultsKey factors to influence anxiety were social aspects of stigma, effectiveness of seizure control, whether in employment, and the number of different epilepsy drugs. Determinants for depression were social aspects of stigma, whether in employment, and the effectiveness of seizure control. Stigma was also found to be an important mediating variable for employment, control, and the number of drugs.ConclusionUnderstanding the mechanisms involved in anxiety and depression in a community sample of people with epilepsy requires the inclusion of opportunities for paid employment and the effects of psychosocial factors such as stigma. Without this fuller social context, there are limitations on understanding factors that influence anxiety and depression and how to deal with the outcomes.