Psychological and Psychiatric Assessment in Patients Eligible for Epilepsy Surgery

NCT ID: NCT06792383

Last Updated: 2026-02-12

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

180 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-12-02

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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The aim of the study is to describe the socio-demographic, clinical, psychological, and psychiatric characteristics of patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy eligible for epilepsy surgery and any changes in these parameters over time after surgery. Additionally, the study seeks to describe the levels of quality of life, dissociative experiences, prevalence of various psychiatric symptoms, irritability, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stigma perception in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy eligible for epilepsy surgery and any changes over time after surgery.

Detailed Description

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The aim of the study is to describe the socio-demographic, clinical, psychological, and psychiatric characteristics of patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy eligible for epilepsy surgery and any changes in these parameters over time after surgery. Additionally, the study seeks to describe the levels of quality of life, dissociative experiences, prevalence of various psychiatric symptoms, irritability, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stigma perception in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy eligible for epilepsy surgery and any changes over time after surgery.

This longitudinal, non-pharmacological interventional clinical study will be conducted at the Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit of the Institute. The enrollment will last for 24 months, during which approximately 30 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy eligible for epilepsy surgery will be enrolled, from both genders, aged at least 18 years.

Two groups of patients eligible for epilepsy surgery will be enrolled:

* Study group: patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy eligible for epilepsy surgery who will undergo the procedure immediately.
* Control group: patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy eligible for epilepsy surgery who, due to the need for further investigations and evaluations, will undergo the surgery at least 1 year after the baseline.

For the study group, data will be collected at three time points:

* At the time of pre-surgical hospitalization (baseline)
* 6 months after epilepsy surgery, during the first post-surgical follow-up visit (FU1)
* 12 months after epilepsy surgery, during the second post-surgical follow-up visit (FU2)

For the control group, data will be collected at three time points as well:

* At the time of surgical indication (baseline)
* 6 months after baseline and before epilepsy surgery (FU1)
* 12 months after baseline and before epilepsy surgery (FU2) At all three data collection time points, clinical psychological interviews and the administration of questionnaires evaluating the study variables will be conducted for both groups.

Conditions

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Focal Epilepsy With and Without Secondary Generalization

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

The following assessment tools will be proposed to patients:

* Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31)26
* • Dissociative Experience Scale (DES)27
* • Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90)28
* • Irritability Questionnaire (I-EPI)29
* • Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)30
* • State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y-1 e Y-2 (STAI)31
* • Epilepsy Stigma Scale modificata32 These assessment tools are validated and used universally, and will allow the collection of information on the psychological and psychiatric functioning of the patients.
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy

patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy eligible for epilepsy surgery who will undergo the procedure immediately.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

quality of life

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The following assessment tools will be proposed to patients:

* Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31)26
* Dissociative Experience Scale (DES)27
* Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90)28
* Irritability Questionnaire (I-EPI)29
* Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)30
* State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y-1 e Y-2 (STAI)31
* Epilepsy Stigma Scale modificata32 These assessment tools are validated and used universally, and will allow the collection of information on the psychological and psychiatric functioning of the patients.

Interventions

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quality of life

The following assessment tools will be proposed to patients:

* Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE-31)26
* Dissociative Experience Scale (DES)27
* Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90)28
* Irritability Questionnaire (I-EPI)29
* Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)30
* State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y-1 e Y-2 (STAI)31
* Epilepsy Stigma Scale modificata32 These assessment tools are validated and used universally, and will allow the collection of information on the psychological and psychiatric functioning of the patients.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Other Intervention Names

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psychiatric symptoms

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients aged 18 or older at the time of enrollment;
* Patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy followed at the Institute for at least 6 months;
* Patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy eligible for epilepsy surgery;
* Patients capable of providing informed consent to participate in the study and for the processing of personal data.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients with evident and/or diagnosed cognitive or psychiatric disorders that prevent participation in an interview, proper understanding of informed consent, or completion of questionnaires.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Marco de Curtis, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Clinical and Experimental Epileptology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via G. Celoria 11, 20133 Milano, Italy

Locations

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Foundation IRCCS Carlo Besta Neurological Institute

Milan, , Italy

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Italy

Central Contacts

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Rui Quintas, PsyD

Role: CONTACT

+39 02 2394 ext. 2487

Marco de Curtis, MD

Role: CONTACT

+39 02 2394 ext. 2487

Facility Contacts

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Rui Quintas, PsyD

Role: primary

02 2394 ext. 2487

Marco de Curtis, MD

Role: backup

+39 02 2394 ext. 2487

References

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Sawant N, Ravat S, Muzumdar D, Shah U. Is psychiatric assessment essential for better epilepsy surgery outcomes? Int J Surg. 2016 Dec;36(Pt B):460-465. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.06.025. Epub 2015 Jun 12.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26079497 (View on PubMed)

Locharernkul C, Kanchanatawan B, Bunyaratavej K, Srikijvilaikul T, Deesudchit T, Tepmongkol S, Lertlum S, Tuchinda L, Shoungshotti C, Ounpak P. Quality of life after successful epilepsy surgery: evaluation by occupational achievement and income acquisition. J Med Assoc Thai. 2005 Sep;88 Suppl 4:S207-13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16623030 (View on PubMed)

Devinsky O, Penry JK. Quality of life in epilepsy: the clinician's view. Epilepsia. 1993;34 Suppl 4:S4-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1993.tb05916.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8348904 (View on PubMed)

Deleo F, Quintas R, Pastori C, Pappalardo I, Didato G, Di Giacomo R, de Curtis M, Villani F. Quality of life, psychiatric symptoms, and stigma perception in three groups of persons with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2020 Sep;110:107170. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107170. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32512366 (View on PubMed)

Shneker BF, Fountain NB. Epilepsy. Dis Mon. 2003 Jul;49(7):426-78. doi: 10.1016/s0011-5029(03)00065-8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12838266 (View on PubMed)

Langfitt JT, Westerveld M, Hamberger MJ, Walczak TS, Cicchetti DV, Berg AT, Vickrey BG, Barr WB, Sperling MR, Masur D, Spencer SS. Worsening of quality of life after epilepsy surgery: effect of seizures and memory decline. Neurology. 2007 Jun 5;68(23):1988-94. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000264000.11511.30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17548548 (View on PubMed)

Spencer SS, Berg AT, Vickrey BG, Sperling MR, Bazil CW, Haut S, Langfitt JT, Walczak TS, Devinsky O; Multicenter Study of Epilepsy Surgery. Health-related quality of life over time since resective epilepsy surgery. Ann Neurol. 2007 Oct;62(4):327-34. doi: 10.1002/ana.21131.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17567854 (View on PubMed)

Tellez-Zenteno JF, Patten SB, Jette N, Williams J, Wiebe S. Psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy: a population-based analysis. Epilepsia. 2007 Dec;48(12):2336-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01222.x. Epub 2007 Jul 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17662062 (View on PubMed)

Luoni C, Bisulli F, Canevini MP, De Sarro G, Fattore C, Galimberti CA, Gatti G, La Neve A, Muscas G, Specchio LM, Striano S, Perucca E; SOPHIE Study Group. Determinants of health-related quality of life in pharmacoresistant epilepsy: results from a large multicenter study of consecutively enrolled patients using validated quantitative assessments. Epilepsia. 2011 Dec;52(12):2181-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03325.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22136077 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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PsychoSurgery

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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