ArticleEpilepsia open2026
Trajectories of quality of life, anxiety and depressive symptomatology, and health-related work productivity after first seizure events.
Article in Epilepsia open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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14 authors.
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Abstract
objectiveFirst seizure events are common and may exert an immediate and profound impact on people's lives. Less understood are their long-term consequences. This prospective, longitudinal study aimed to measure and compare psychosocial and health-related work productivity trajectories following first seizure events of various etiologies.
methodsAdults with first seizure events were recruited from five epilepsy centers in Australia and the US between 2020 and 2023. Participants completed questionnaires covering health-related quality of life (HRQOL; EQ-5D-5L, QOLIE-31), anxiety and depressive symptomatology (HADS), and productivity (WPAI) within 6 weeks of their first seizure event, and 6- and 12 months later.
resultsOne hundred ninety-six participants (median age 42 years, 55.6% male) met inclusion criteria. 101 (51.5%) had newly-diagnosed epilepsy, 46 (23.4%) had acute symptomatic seizures, and 49 (25.0%) had syncope (seizure mimic). Compared to baseline, at 12-month follow-up, the acute symptomatic seizure group showed significant improvement in EQ-5D-5L utility (p = 0.001). The newly diagnosed epilepsy and acute symptomatic seizure groups both demonstrated improved QOLIE-31 scores over 12 months (acute symptomatic seizure p = 0.025; newly diagnosed epilepsy p < 0.001). The newly diagnosed epilepsy group showed significant reductions in absenteeism (p < 0.001), presenteeism (p < 0.001), overall work impairment (p < 0.001), and activity impairment (p = 0.002). The acute symptomatic seizure group had a significant reduction in informal care needs (p < 0.001). Anxiety and depressive symptomatology remained unchanged across all groups. SIGNIFICANCE: HRQOL improved for people with acute symptomatic seizures and newly diagnosed epilepsy over time, but anxiety and depressive symptomatology remained unchanged. Future studies may explore interventions to improve screening and treatment of anxiety and depression for people following first seizure events. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This study investigated changes in quality of life, anxiety and depressive symptomatology, and health-related work productivity over a 12-month period for adults with first seizure events. Participants reported improvements in quality of life, reduced sick days, increased productivity at work, and less need for informal care. Concerningly, there was no change in their anxiety and depressive symptoms. The findings of this study may prompt first seizure clinicians to regularly screen patients for anxiety and depressive disorders, and treat these appropriately.
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