ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the diagnosis and symptoms of adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder and quality of life in people with epilepsy.

In this study, 50 idiop athic /cryp togen ic epilepsy patients aged 18-65 years, followed by University Hospital Neurology outpatient clinic, and 50 healthy controls were included. Adult-Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (A-ADD/ADHD), Symptom Checklist 90-Revised, Barratt Impulsivity Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Short Form (WHOQoL-Bref) were completed by the participants. The diagnosis of adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder was made according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 diagnostic criteria.

The positive screening rate for adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder was 22% in people with epilepsy. Totally 6 (12%) people in the people with epilepsy and 2 (4%) people in the control group were diagnosed with adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder (P = .204). Significant differences were found in WHOQoL-Bref General, Physical, and Mental sub-parameters, A-ADD/ADHD-total and attention-deficit and related characteristics scores, Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 total and all subgroups, and Symptom Checklist general and all subscales between people with epilepsy and control groups. A moderate negative correlation was found between WHOQoL-Bref scores and A-ADD/ADHD-attention deficit, Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 total, Symptom Checklist General scores. Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 total, and adult attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disor der-a ttent ion-d efici t scores; there was a moderate positive correlation between each of the number of hospitalization and outpatient treatments. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to predict the dependent variable as WHOQoL-Bref General using the independent variables of epilepsy age of onset, Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 total, A-ADD/ADHD-attention-deficit, and Symptom Checklist general score. Accordingly, from the independent variables, the impulsivity total score predicts the dependent variable as negative and significant.

Impulsivity predicts general quality of life scores reported by people with epilepsy and reveals the importance of the attention defic it/hy perac tivity disorder clinic for people with epilepsy and its visible impact on daily functioning. It is important to evaluate attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder in these patients, as attention defic it/hy perac tivit y disorder comorbidity will create a serious burden for epilepsy.

Keywords: Adult with epilepsy, attention deficit, comorbidity, impulsivity, quality of life