Patients With Epilepsy Who Underwent Epilepsy Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Showed Less Depressive Tendencies

Niimi, Keiko; Fujimoto, Ayataka; Sato, Keishiro; Enoki, Hideo; Okanishi, Tohru

doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.677828

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Seizure frequency in this study was graded as follows: daily = 5; weekly = 4; monthly = 3; yearly = 2; seizure-free for >1 year but ≤2 years = 1; seizure-free for >2 years = 0 [ 26 ]. Seizures in this study consisted of generalized tonic–clonic convulsions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Replacement of Valproic Acid with New Anti-Seizure Medications in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

Fujimoto

Enoki²,

Hatano³

et al. 2022

JCM

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Little is known regarding the non-inferiority of new anti-seizure medications (ASMs) in terms of replacing valproic acid (VPA) in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). We hypothesized that replacement of VPA with new ASMs would offer non-inferior or better control of seizure frequency. The purpose of this study was to compare epileptic seizure frequency between the subset of patients with IGE who were on VPA and the subset of patients with IGE who replaced VPA with new ASMs. Methods: Patients with IGE who were on or had been on VPA between January 2016 and March 2022 were divided into a group that replaced VPA with new ASMs (VPA-replace group) and a group that remained on VPA (VPA-continue group). We then compared the groups in terms of seizure frequency and myoclonus. Results: Of the 606 patients on VPA between January 2016 and March 2022, 156 patients with IGE were enrolled to this study (VPA-replace group, n = 68; VPA-continue group, n = 88). The VPA-replace group included significantly more females than the VPA-continue group (p < 0.001). The VPA-replace group also showed significantly higher seizure frequency before replacement (p < 0.001), but not after replacement (p = 0.074). Patients on monotherapy displayed improved seizure frequency with new ASMs (p < 0.001). Among the new ASMs, perampanel (PER) significantly improved seizure frequency (p = 0.002). Forty-two patients in the VPA-replace group who had myoclonus achieved significant improvements (p < 0.001). Among these, patients on PER monotherapy (p < 0.001) or PER + lamotrigine (0.016) showed significantly improved myoclonus scale scores. Conclusions: This study shows the non-inferiority of new ASMs compared to VPA, with better seizure control using new ASMs in subsets of patients with IGE on monotherapy.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Replacement of Valproic Acid with New Anti-Seizure Medications in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

Fujimoto

Enoki²,

Hatano³

et al. 2022

JCM

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…They were under home quarantine, away from their friends and society, and underwent economic losses in their incomes and jobs [18]. These mental conditions make epilepsy patients vulnerable to various psychological conditions, including stress, depression, and anxiety [21]. These psychological conditions are referred to as interictal dysphoric syndrome [11].…”

Section: Countrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Epilepsy, alongside depression, has profound effects on the patient's life, leading to decreased daily functioning and quality of life, decreased academic achievements in children and adolescents, reduced marriage rates, increased unemployment, seizures, high mortality, and an increased requirement to medical treatments [20]. Anxiety can result from the unpredictability of seizures, decreased physical activity, self-worthlessness, or social exclusion [20,21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Distress in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Sheykhangafshe

Fathi-Ashtiani

2022

Caspian J Neurol Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic can cause various anxiety, fear, and tension in society. The negative impact of the pandemic is not limited to physical health problems. It can generate serious consequences, such as anxiety, depression, and stress, especially neurological diseases. Objectives: The present study investigated depression, anxiety, and stress in patients with MS and epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials & Methods: In this study, the keywords depression, anxiety, stress, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and COVID-19 in the title and abstract of articles published in 2020 (May) and 2021 (July) in reputable international scientific databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched. The PRISMA checklist was used to review and control the quality of articles. Results: Overall, 394 English articles were retrieved. Finally, 27 final articles were selected for comprehensive review and data extraction. The obtained results suggested that patients with MS and epilepsy experienced depression, anxiety, stress, fear, poor sleep quality, mental fatigue, and poor quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quarantine has limited patients’ access to medication and treatment, resulting in increased seizures and disease severity. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic reduced patients’ mental health with MS and epilepsy. The psychological consequences of the outbreak of COVID-19 might be associated with patients with MS and epilepsy for years; thus, it is necessary to adopt psychological interventions to reduce psychological distress in these patients.

show abstract

The safety and efficacy of modifying the admission protocol to the epilepsy monitoring unit in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Babtain

Atteyah

Milyani

et al. 2021

Epilepsy & Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted admission to epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) for classification and presurgical evaluation of patients with refractory epilepsy. We modified the EMU admission protocol via anti-seizure medications (ASM) withdrawal implemented one day before admission; thus, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this modified protocol. Methods In January 2021, we initiated ASM tapering 24 hours before—rather than on the first day after—EMU admission, contrasting with the previous protocol. We retrospectively reviewed EMU admissions between January and April of 2018, 2019, and 2021, and identified the time required to record the first seizure, and EMU yield to confirm or change the epilepsy classification. We also evaluated the safety of the modified protocol, by monitoring the seizure frequency for up to 5 months after the discharge from the hospital. Results One hundred four patients were included (mean age: 30 years, men: 43%); excluding a longer disease duration and abundance of normal routine electro-encephalogram (EEG) in patients admitted before the pandemic, no differences were observed in patients' characteristics. On average, it took 41 hours and 21 hours to record the first seizure using the standard and modified protocols, respectively (p<0.001, 95% CI: 10–30). Other characteristics were investigated both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and epilepsy classifications were confirmed twice using the modified protocol (OR=2.4, p=0.04, 95% CI: 1.1–5.5). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the shorter time to record the first seizure using the modified admission protocol (23 hours less, p<0.001; 95% CI: 12–34). Finally, 36 (86 %) patients admitted during the pandemic exhibited no increase in seizure frequency after the discharge from the hospital. Conclusions Initiating ASM withdrawal one day before EMU admission was deemed to be an efficient and safe way to confirm epilepsy classification and significantly decrease the length of hospital stay. Ultimately, this will shorten the long waiting list for EMU admission created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

show abstract

Patients With Epilepsy Who Underwent Epilepsy Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic Showed Less Depressive Tendencies

Cited by 3 publications

References 41 publications

Replacement of Valproic Acid with New Anti-Seizure Medications in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

Replacement of Valproic Acid with New Anti-Seizure Medications in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

Psychological Distress in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

The safety and efficacy of modifying the admission protocol to the epilepsy monitoring unit in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About