Table 1 Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of the participants

Age in years (n = 476), mean ± SD [range]

40.3 ± 15.4 [18–83]

Sex, n (%)

Male

Female

197(41.4)

279(58.6)

Epilepsy type, n (%)

Focal

Generalized

Unknown

321(67.4)

103(21.6)

52(10.9)

Epilepsy onset in years (n = 457), mean ± SD [range]

24.1 ± 16.0 [0–79]

Mean duration of the epilepsy in years (n = 455), mean ± SD [range]

16.0 ± 15.1 [0–71]

Seizure frequency, n (%)

daily

weekly

monthly

once every 6 months

once per year

no seizure > 1 year

n/a

21(4.4)

46(9.7)

85(17.9)

44(9.2)

51(10.7)

197(41.4)

32(6.7)

Number of anti-seizure medications (ASMs), n (%)

0

1

2

≥ 3

Number of ASMs, mean ± SD [range]

19(4.0)

195(41.0)

171(35.9)

91(19.1)

1.8 ± 0.9 [0–6]

Relationship status, n (%)

Married/in a relationship

Divorced/separated

Single/living with relatives

Living alone

Widowed

n/a

267(56.1)

23(4.8)

78(16.4)

93(19.5)

8(1.9)

7(1.5)

Has children, n (%)

Yes

No

n/a

210(44.1)

260(54.6)

6(1.3)

Occupational situation, n (%)

Working

Stay-at-home

Vocational training

Unemployed

Disability pension

Retired

Other or n/a

245(51.5)

22(4.6)

43(9.0)

30(6.3)

74(15.5)

36(7.6)

26(5.5)

Certificate of disability, n (%)

No

Yes

n/a

199(41.8)

274(57.6)

3(0.6)

Patients taking antidepressant medication, n (%)

(citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, amitriptyline, duloxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, mirtazapine)

32(6.7)

Patients currently receiving psychiatric treatment, n (%)

31(6.5)