Psychiatric Morbidity in Epilepsy; A Cross Sectional Hospital Based Study

Background:Previous work has identified prevalence rate for psychiatric disorders in individual with epilepsy and its correlation. However studies from this part of country are quite a few, and no systematic attempt has earlier been made to study prevalence, nature of psychopathology ,and any correlation of duration of psychiatric illness with duration of epilepsy. Aims: i)To find out the nature of psychiatric illness presenting with epilepsy ,presenting to psychiatry department with history of epilepsy. ii)To find out the correlation of the psychiatric illness with the duration, treatment and family history of epilepsy. Method:43 cases of psychiatric illness were selected by using a serial sampling method, from the patients attending both in-patient and out-patient services of the Department of Psychiatry A.M.C.H, Dibrugarh, during the period from January 2006 to February 2007. Results: There was a significant association between psychiatric illness and epilepsy and its durations. 99% linear and mutual relationship exist between type of seizure and psychiatric illness, so far their rank is concerned. Connecting this if we go far the correlation test related to their respective duration then it is found to be 0.9746 which is significant .Prevalence of schizophrenia is 44.18%, and depression 9.3%. Conclusion:Study shows significant association between epilepsy and psychiatric illness, study also shows significant association between duration of onset psychiatric illness and duration of onset of epilepsy. Prevalence of schizophrenia in epileptic patients to be much higher, However prevalence of depression is less than prevalence of studies in the past.