Posttraumatic stress in newly diagnosed epilepsy: associations with early maladaptive schemas, anxiety, and quality of life in a 6-month prospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that significantly affects psychosocial functioning, self-perception, and quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests that posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms may be more prevalent in individuals with epilepsy than previously recognized, particularly following seizure-related experiences perceived as traumatic. The aim of this study was to evaluate short- and long-term PTS levels in individuals with newly diagnosed epilepsy and examine their associations with anxiety, depression, early maladaptive schemas, and quality of life.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In this prospective study, 31 individuals with newly diagnosed epilepsy were enrolled. Participants completed a sociodemographic data form, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5, the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form 3, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory. Statistical analyses were performed with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Anxiety showed the strongest association with PTS symptoms at both the first- and sixth-month assessments. The Enmeshment/Dependence schema was also significantly associated with higher PTS levels, and increased total schema scores correlated with greater traumatic stress. Female sex was associated with higher PTS scores. Quality of life showed significant declines, particularly in cognitive functioning, overall health status, and overall quality of life, and these declines were negatively correlated with PTS symptom severity.

CONCLUSION

PTS symptoms in newly diagnosed epilepsy are closely associated with anxiety, early maladaptive cognitive schemas, and impaired quality of life. These findings emphasize the importance of incorporating trauma-informed psychiatric assessment and early psychological interventions into routine epilepsy care, in addition to seizure management.