Examining clinically relevant levels of depressive symptoms in mothers following a diagnosis of epilepsy in their children: a prospective analysis

The objectives were to (1) document the risk of clinical depression in mothers in the 24 months after epilepsy diagnosis in
their children, (2) determine whether the probability of risk of clinical depression changes over time, and (3) identify factors
predictive of risk of clinical depression.

Data were obtained from the Health Related Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy Study, a national prospective study of
children 4–12 years old with new-onset epilepsy followed for 24 months. Risk-free survival was calculated using the life table
approach. Binary sequence modeling for longitudinal data was implemented to identify risk factors.

A total of 210 mothers were included in the analysis. Twenty-eight percent of mothers without clinically relevant levels of
depressive symptoms at baseline were at risk for clinical depression by 24 months. The probability for risk of clinical depression
and associated 95% confidence intervals by 6, 12, and 24 months was 0.13 (0.08, 0.18), 0.12 (0.07, 0.17), and 0.19 (0.10,
0.27), respectively. Significant predictors (p < 0.01) of risk of clinical depression during follow-up quantified using odds ratios (OR) were maternal age (OR = 0.94),
number of anti-epileptic drugs child was prescribed (OR = 1.41), family functioning (OR = 0.83), family resources (OR = 0.93),
and family demands (OR = 1.10).

Risk of clinical depression in mothers after their child is diagnosed with epilepsy is common and relatively stable over time.
Modifiable risk factors may present avenues for intervention to improve the mental health of mothers of children with epilepsy.