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Abstract Details

A survey of neurologists screening and management of depression in patients with epilepsy
Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG)
P1 - Poster Session 1 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)
6-008
1) To ascertain how neurologists screen for depression in adults with epilepsy; 2) understand barriers and solutions to depression screening and management.
Previous research has demonstrated that depression is a highly prevalent comorbidity in patients with epilepsy (PWE), and several organizations support screening for depression in PWE as a quality indicator.  However, evidence suggests that screening and treatment rates are low.
A 20-question survey was distributed electronically to neurology attendings and residents at two academic medical centers.
32/53 (60%) practitioners completed the questionnaire.  56% were residents and 41% were attendings. 67% screened for depression at 25% or less of clinic visits for PWE. Screening rates were similarly low in inpatient and outpatient settings and for visits for other neurologic conditions. The most common listed barrier to screening was time (63% of respondents listed it as top 3 barrier). Other reasons (with proportion of respondents listing in top 3) were lack of comfort with depression diagnosis (25%) and lack of comfort with anti-depressants (28%). 47% of respondents were not sure prescribing anti-depressants helped, and 53% of respondents were not sure referral to mental health coordinated services helped. Only 25% felt that prescribing anti-depressants led to moderate or large improvement.  Screening frequency did not differ by resident vs. attending status or by gender. However, 88% of respondents would screen if they had access to a brief, validated screening tool, and 81% would screen if they had access to a standardized treatment protocol.

Neurologists’ screening and treatment rates for depression in PWE were low due to a combination of a lack of time and clinical confidence in treatments. Neurologists expressed motivation to diagnose and treat depression if a time-efficient, standardized methodology was developed. A systematic screening, diagnosis, and treatment tool coupled with an education campaign are needed to improve depression detection and treatment.  

 

 

Authors/Disclosures
Giancarlo Riotto
PRESENTER
No disclosure on file
No disclosure on file
No disclosure on file
No disclosure on file
Ram Mani, MD (Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School) No disclosure on file