Abstracts

Rationale: Anxiety is a common mental health comorbidity in people with epilepsy. Anxiety in epilepsy is associated with poorer health-related quality of life, increased healthcare utilisation, and poorer response to antiepileptic medication. Despite this, it has remained under-detected and poorly understood. There are also difficulties with accurate assessment of anxiety in epilepsy, given their many shared characteristics. The broad aim of this PhD research is to better understand and improve detection of anxiety in people with epilepsy. Methods: A number of methods were utilised to achieve the aims above. First, a meta-analysis was conducted to determine the rate of anxiety disorders in adults with epilepsy. Second, a qualitative study was conducted to develop a theoretical model of anxiety in epilepsy. Finally, the design and validation of an accurate screening instrument to detect anxiety is currently underway. Results: Meta-analysis of the prevalence of anxiety revealed that approximately 23% of people with epilepsy have one or more anxiety disorders. Results of the analysis also suggested that anxiety may be going undetected in some settings. Qualitative analysis revealed a number of factors responsible for the development and maintenance of anxiety in the context of epilepsy. Finally, results of an ongoing validation of a pilot assessment of anxiety (the Epilepsy Anxiety Survey Instrument; EASI) will be presented. Conclusions: Results of these research studies provide insight into the prevalence and nature of anxiety in epilepsy. Further, the outcome of the final validation of the EASI will provide clinicians and researchers with an accurate detection tool. Altogether the findings provide an avenue for future research and improved management of anxiety in people with epilepsy. Funding: The first author is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship.