Difficulties in emotion and social support in people with epilepsy: relationship with depression levels

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between depression level, emotion regulation difficulties and social support in individuals with epilepsy. Materials and Methods: Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory-Epilepsy (NDDI-E), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Two-Way Social Support Scale (2- WSSS) were filled out by the patients followed up with a diagnosis of focal epilepsy. Results: One hundred nine patients were included in the study. Depression was found in 25% of the patients. The median DERS value of the patients with depression was 45 (28-55), and the group without depression was 24 (1833.5). It was determined that the DERS score of the depressed group was significantly higher than the group without depression. There is a negative correlation between social support scale (92 (69.5-102.5)) and emotion regulation difficulties scale (27 (19-41)) in the correlation analysis of the entire study population. According to the regression analysis, difficulties in emotion regulation are the main determinant of depression and explain depression at a rate of 16.8%. Conclusion: Emotion regulation difficulties are one of the main determinants of depression in individuals with epilepsy and inadequate social support is associated with emotion regulation difficulties. In order to reduce the frequency of depression in individuals with epilepsy, rehabilitation programs are needed to strengthen emotion regulation strategies.