Anxiety screening tools in people with epilepsy: A systematic review of validated tools

Publication date: October 2019Source: Epilepsy & Behavior, Volume 99Author(s): Zilin Wang, Zhiwen Luo, Shunhua Li, Zhiwen Luo, Zilin WangAbstractObjectiveAnxiety is a common neurological condition often comorbid with epilepsy, with approximately 20% of patients with epilepsy exhibiting symptoms of anxiety. Despite this prevalence, accurate and efficacious tools designed to screen for anxiety specifically in patients with epilepsy have not yet been developed. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature and better understand this relationship.MethodsOvid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsyclNFO were searched until April 22nd, 2019 without language restrictions. We extracted abstracts, data abstraction, and full-text reviews in duplicate and chose the studies that included measures for anxiety screening in patients with epilepsy. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies Version was used to assess study quality. We used the medians and ranges to calculate the accuracy of the tools.ResultsWe screened 4758 abstracts and selected 11 articles dealing with anxiety. The most common validated anxiety screening tools were the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-A (HADS-A). The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was the most common reference standard used.SignificanceMany studies have validated depression screening tools rather than anxiety. This lack of data has left much uncertainty about the relatio...
Source: Epilepsy and Behavior - Category: Neurology Source Type: research