Behind the seizures: exploring the emotional burden of adolescents with idiopathic generalized epilepsy

This multicenter study investigated depressive and anxiety symptoms in 68 adolescents (11–18 years) with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and their association with clinical variables. Assessments using the CBCL (parent-reported) and SAFA (self-reported) showed no overall clinical deficits, but 33% of patients reported clinically relevant anxiety, 31% depressive symptoms, and 19% somatic complaints. Anxiety and depression were linked to later epilepsy onset and recent seizures; patients with recent seizures also reported greater irritability and hypochondriacal symptoms. Somatic symptoms correlated positively with age at onset and negatively with epilepsy duration. These findings highlight the need for targeted psychological assessment and support, especially for adolescents with recent seizures or later epilepsy onset.