Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among biological factors (family history, medication), psychological factors (depression, personality traits) and social factors (adjustment, isolation) associated with epilepsy in late adulthood.
Design: This study utilized a cross sectional design, incorporating an epilepsy and a matched control group, and using the biopsychosocial model as its theoretical underpinning. This model integrates biological science with the unique features of the individual and determines the degree to which biological and psychosocial factors interact to explain illness and disease. Thus, a biological event, such as epilepsy, can affect function at a cellular level; can lead to affective disorders such as depression and to a disruption of interpersonal and social interactions.
Materials and Methods: Participants were 50 adults over the age of 55 years who had epilepsy and 50 matched controls. Participants were recruited through a local epilepsy association, neurologists, geriatricians, general medical practitioners, aged care facilities, and public and private hospitals.
Part one - an interview was conducted during which demographic and epilepsy details were recorded. Participants completed the Washington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Bear-Fedio Inventory and a clinical assessment of depressive symptomatology was performed. Details of the patient’s epilepsy diagnosis and any current or prior depressive episodes was also obtained from the treating physician.
Part two - involved an intervention to test the biopsychosocial model in which participants were randomly allocated to either an intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group were taught cognitive-behavioral and relaxation strategies which prior research suggests may aid in the control of seizures and co-morbid depression. Multiple regression analyses were conducted for part one and ANOVA for part two of this study.
Results: Initial results of regression analyses for part one indicate a relationship among a number of the examined variables. Part two data is yet to be analysed. Full results will be available for discussion.
Conclusion: Epilepsy in late adulthood has received little prior research attention. The results of this study will add considerable data to the existing body of knowledge.
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