Gul Zeynep Bastug
Department of Neurology, Bakirkoy Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatry and Neurological Disorders, University of Health Sciences, Zuhuratbaba, Doktor Tevfik Sağlam Cd. 25/2, 34147 Bakırköy/İstanbul, Turkey.
Ann Med Psychol (Paris). 2022 Feb;180(2):127-132. doi: 10.1016/j.amp.2021.02.006. Epub 2021 Feb 16.
The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major health problem with a high rate of spread. We aimed to investigate herein the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on depression and sexual dysfunction in patients with epilepsy.
One hundred and sixteen epilepsy patients admitted to our hospital from October-November 2019 were evaluated for sexual functions and depression using the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) and Beck Depression Scale, respectively. These scales were re-applied in June 2020 and July 2020 to assess the impact of the outbreak on sexual function and depression in the same group of patients. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded and analyzed in SPSS.
During the pandemic period, the total Beck Depression Scale values increased significantly in the patients with epilepsy compared to the pre-pandemic period ( = 0.048), and depressive symptoms showed an increasing trend ( = 0.032). Although an increase in sexual dysfunction was also recorded, it was not statistically significant compared to the pre-pandemic period. In eight patients (6.9%), seizure frequency increased during the pandemic period. In the multivariate analysis, the only parameter that predicted the increase in seizure frequency was the number of drugs used. The Beck Depression Scale values were positively correlated with total male/female ASEX values, age, marital status, duration of illness, and seizure frequency.
The COVID-19 outbreak caused an increase in the tendency to depression in epilepsy patients and has also had a negative effect on sexual function. During public health outbreaks, clinicians should focus not only on seizure control in patients with epilepsy but also on their mental health.
2019年新型冠状病毒病（COVID-19）是一个传播率很高的重大健康问题。我们旨在研究COVID-19疫情对癫痫患者抑郁和性功能的影响。
对2019年10月至11月入住我院的116例癫痫患者，分别使用亚利桑那性体验量表（ASEX）和贝克抑郁量表评估其性功能和抑郁情况。在2020年6月和7月对同一组患者重新应用这些量表，以评估疫情对性功能和抑郁的影响。记录患者的人口统计学和临床特征，并在SPSS中进行分析。
在疫情期间，癫痫患者的贝克抑郁量表总分与疫情前相比显著增加（P = 0.048），抑郁症状呈上升趋势（P = 0.032）。虽然性功能障碍也有增加，但与疫情前相比无统计学意义。在8例患者（6.9%）中，疫情期间癫痫发作频率增加。多因素分析中，预测癫痫发作频率增加的唯一参数是使用的药物数量。贝克抑郁量表总分与男性/女性ASEX总分、年龄、婚姻状况、病程和癫痫发作频率呈正相关。
COVID-19疫情导致癫痫患者抑郁倾向增加，对性功能也有负面影响。在公共卫生疫情期间，临床医生不仅应关注癫痫患者的癫痫控制，还应关注其心理健康。
