SCREENING OF COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION AND DEPRESSION IN GENERALIZED EPILEPSY

Abstract

Patients' quality of life is greatly impacted by generalized epilepsy, which is frequently linked to depression and cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between the severity of depression, cognitive function, and the duration of epilepsy in individuals with generalized epilepsy. We analyzed 100 patients (aged 18–60, mean age 36.5 ± 12.6) with generalized epilepsy (idiopathic, symptomatic, cryptogenic). Patients were divided into three groups based on epilepsy duration: <5 years, 5–10 years, and >10 years. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), depression severity with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and correlations were analyzed using Spearman’s test. MoCA scores declined significantly with longer epilepsy duration (Group 1: 23.4 ± 0.24, Group 2: 22.3 ± 0.38, Group 3: 21.6 ± 0.8; p < 0.001), indicating progressive cognitive impairment. Similarly, the length of epilepsy was associated with higher HDRS scores, indicating greater depression. According to Spearman's correlation, the length of epilepsy was positively correlated with HDRS scores and negatively correlated with MoCA scores (p < 0.001). Decreased cognitive function and more severe depression are linked to longer epilepsy duration. Improving patient outcomes requires early cognitive screening and focused therapy