ArticlePloS one2021
Comorbid mental disorders and quality of life of people with epilepsy attending primary health care clinics in rural Ethiopia.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Health-related quality of life and its predictors among epilepsy patients in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Quality of life and associated factors among people with epilepsy in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2024Pooled it
- Co-morbid mental health conditions in people with epilepsy and association with quality of life in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2023Pooled it
- Stress and HPA axis dysfunction impact diverse epilepsy outcomes including psychiatric comorbidities and SUDEP.Epilepsy research · 2026Review
- Uncovering the Key Influencers of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Patients With Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Study.Brain and behavior · 2026Article
- Health-related quality of life and associated factors among patients living with epilepsy of Mekelle City Hospitals, Northern Ethiopia: a multicenter observational study.Health and quality of life outcomes · 2026Observational
- Impact of co-morbid common mental disorder symptoms in people with epilepsy in Ethiopia on quality of life and functional disability: a cohort study.Global mental health (Cambridge, England) · 2025Article
- Factors influencing quality of life in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria · 2025Article
- Experience and perceptions of mental ill-health in people with epilepsy in rural Ethiopia: A qualitative study.PloS one · 2024Article
- Article
- Performance of primary health care workers in detection of mental disorders comorbid with epilepsy in rural Ethiopia.BMC family practice · 2021Article
- Overview of psychiatric and behavioral adverse effects of levetiracetam.Frontiers in neurologyReview
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundEvidence from high-income countries demonstrates that co-morbid mental disorders in people with epilepsy adversely affect clinical and social outcomes. However, evidence from low-income countries is lacking. The objective of this study was to measure the association between co-morbid mental disorders and quality of life and functioning in people with epilepsy.
methodsA facility-based, community ascertained cross-sectional survey was carried out in selected districts of the Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Participants were identified in the community and referred to primary health care (PHC) clinics. Those diagnosed by PHC workers were recruited. Co-morbid mental disorders were measured using a standardised, semi-structured clinical interview administered by mental health professionals. The main outcome, quality of life, was measured using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy questionnaire (QOLIE-10p). The secondary outcome, functional disability, was assessed using the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS-2).
resultsThe prevalence of comorbid mental disorders was 13.9%. Comorbid mental disorders were associated with poorer quality of life (Adjusted (Adj.) β -13.27; 95% CI -23.28 to-3.26) and greater disability (multiplier of WHODAS-2 score 1.62; 95% CI 1.05, 2.50) after adjusting for hypothesised confounding factors. Low or very low relative wealth (Adj. β = -12.57, 95% CI -19.94 to-5.20), higher seizure frequency (Adj.β coef. = -1.92, 95% CI -2.83 to -1.02), and poor to intermediate social support (Adj. β coef. = -9.66, 95% CI -16.51 to -2.81) were associated independently with decreased quality of life. Higher seizure frequency (multiplier of WHODAS-2 score 1.11; 95% CI 1.04, 1.19) was associated independently with functional disability.
conclusionCo-morbid mental disorders were associated with poorer quality of life and impairment, independent of level of seizure control. Integrated and comprehensive psychosocial care is required for better health and social outcomes of people with epilepsy.
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