Abstracts

RATIONALE: Health outcomes research has been defined as the study of the end results of health services that takes the patients' experiences, preferences, and values into account. Although seizure frequency and severity are commonly used as critieria to assess medically refractory epilepsy, little data are available regarding the relative influence of other potentially important factors, such as medication side effects or mood imbalance, on health outcomes. METHODS: We used the Profile of Mood States (POMS) 6 scale scores and the POMS summary score, the Neurotoxicity Scale, and detailed seizure calendars (independent variables) to evaluate a cohort of 194 patients (mean age 34.4 years, mean duration of epilepsy 12.7 years, 55% women)with medically refractory epilepsy. The Quality of Life in Epilepsy(QOLIE)-89 summary score and the EFA Concerns Index were used as outcome (dependent) variables. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis demonstrated that the Neurotoxicity Scale summary score and the POMS depression scale were the only independent variables significantly associated with the QOLIE-89 summary score or the EFA Concerns Index. Bivariate analysis revealed strong correlations of the POMS Depression Scale (r=-0.66, p<0.0001) and the Neurotoxicity Summary Scale (r=-0.71, p<0.0001) with the QOLIE-89 summary scale score. Patients averaged 9.7 seizures/month (range 0.3-51), but bivariate analysis found no correlation of simple partial, complex partial, generalized tonic-clonic, or total seizure frequency (r=-0.024, p>