The psychosocial correlates of depressive disorders and suicide risk in people with epilepsy

Abstract Objective Despite considerable effort to identify correlates of psychopathology in people with epilepsy (PWE), research has yet to identify consistent predictors. We tested the association between factors predicted by a model of adjustment to illness and psychopathology in PWE. Methods In 123 PWE recruited from a tertiary referral centre, we examined the cross-sectional relationship between psychosocial factors (illness representations, coping, self-illness enmeshment and self-efficacy) with depression and suicide risk, while controlling for condition-related and demographic factors. Results Multivariate analyses confirmed previous findings showing that condition-related and demographic variables did not consistently account for unique variance in depression although employment status was found to be a significant predictor of suicide risk. In multivariate analyses escape-avoidance coping and the illness consequences subscale of the illness representation questionnaire predicted unique variance in both depression and suicide risk. Conclusion The results provided partial support for a model of adjustment to illness. Specifically, those who believed epilepsy was serious and coped through avoidance were more likely to be depressed and report a current level of suicide risk. These results suggest that interventions that target coping strategies and illness representations may be warranted for PWE with psychopathology.