The effect of fear of COVID-19 on quality of life inpatients with epilepsy

[摘要] Objective: In the COVID-19 pandemic period, the effect of COVID-19 fear on quality of life wasuncertain. This present study examined the effect of fear of COVID-19 on quality of life in patientswith epilepsy through anxiety and depression. Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional study wasconducted with a total of 319 adult patients with epilepsy. The mean age of the patients was 36.0 (±11.1) years, and 53% were male. The mean duration of diagnosis was 16.0 (± 10.6) years, and morethan half of the patients (52.4%) were using two and more antiepileptic drugs. Data were collectedonline between 15 December 2020 and 5 January 2021. COVID-19 Fear Scale, Beck DepressionInventory, Worry and Anxiety Questionnaire, and Epilepsy Quality of Life Scale-10 were used fordata collection. Serial mediation analysis was conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 fearon quality of life. Results: Although there was a significant correlation between them, the fear ofCOVID-19 did not directly affect the quality of life. The fear of COVID-19 increased anxiety anddepression respectively, the increase in the mediators also decreased the quality of life.Conclusion: The fear of COVID-19 experienced by patients with epilepsy did not have a significantdirect effect on the quality of life. However, it was found that it had an indirect effect on the qualityof life by increasing mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, the indirect effect wasmostly on anxiety.

[学科分类] 精神健康和精神病学

[关键词] Epilepsy;fear of COVID-19;anxiety;depression;quality of life