Research Article
Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Patients in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah: A Cross-Sectional Study
Sami Saad1*, Andijani O2, Alharthi AS1, Al-Alfard HA3, Fatani B1, Alshehri T3 and Abualela HM4
1Department of Mental Health, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
2Department of Ministry Health and Preventive Medicine, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
3Department of Ministry Health and Psychiatry, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabi
4Department of Neuroscience Center, Neurology, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2Department of Ministry Health and Preventive Medicine, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
3Department of Ministry Health and Psychiatry, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabi
4Department of Neuroscience Center, Neurology, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
*Corresponding author:Sami Saad, Department of Mental Health, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail Id: sami_yahya@hotmail.com
Article Information:Submission: 02/04/2026; Accepted: 18/04/2026; Published: 20/04/2026
Copyright: ©2026 Saad S, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder frequently associated with psychiatric comorbidities, particularly depression, which significantly impairs quality of life (QOL). Limited data exist regarding its prevalence and associated factors in tertiary care settings, specifically within Epilepsy Monitoring Units (EMUs), in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression and identify associated factors among patients admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) at King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) Specialist Hospital, Makkah, KSA.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to August 2025, enrolling adult patients with a confirmed epilepsy diagnosis admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. Data were collected using structured questionnaires including demographic and clinical variables such as the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), and the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3). Associations were examined using chisquare and non-parametric tests due to the non-normal distribution of variables, followed by multivariable logistic regression. A p-value <0.05 was considered to determine statistical significance.
Results: Among 68 participants admitted to the EMU, the prevalence of depression was 35.3% (95% CI: 25.0% to 47.2%). Higher seizure frequency (>5 seizures/year) and lower educational level showed trends toward increased depression risk. No other factors reached statistical significance.
Conclusion: Depression affects nearly one-third of patients admitted for monitoring in the EMU at KAMC Makkah, KSA. Routine screening and integrated neuropsychiatric care within the EMU setting are essential to improve overall outcomes and QOL among epilepsy patients.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression and identify associated factors among patients admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) at King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) Specialist Hospital, Makkah, KSA.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to August 2025, enrolling adult patients with a confirmed epilepsy diagnosis admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. Data were collected using structured questionnaires including demographic and clinical variables such as the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), and the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3). Associations were examined using chisquare and non-parametric tests due to the non-normal distribution of variables, followed by multivariable logistic regression. A p-value <0.05 was considered to determine statistical significance.
Results: Among 68 participants admitted to the EMU, the prevalence of depression was 35.3% (95% CI: 25.0% to 47.2%). Higher seizure frequency (>5 seizures/year) and lower educational level showed trends toward increased depression risk. No other factors reached statistical significance.
Conclusion: Depression affects nearly one-third of patients admitted for monitoring in the EMU at KAMC Makkah, KSA. Routine screening and integrated neuropsychiatric care within the EMU setting are essential to improve overall outcomes and QOL among epilepsy patients.
Keywords:Antiepileptic drugs; Depression; Epilepsy; NDDI-E; ESS. OSSS-3; EMU