A Comprehensive Review on Comorbid Depression in Patients With Epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the common neurological disorders that are seen worldwide. It can also affect a person's social, mental, and physiological well-being and thus restricts and disables the common living of man. Depression as such has been well reported in patients with epilepsy, and also depression itself remains a factor that can lead to the development of epilepsy. Increased rates of suicidal tendencies are also associated with depression both in men and women. Depression is further extended in affecting the quality of life in epileptic patients. Depressive rates are found to have a higher value in epileptic patients when compared with the normal population. This article aims to produce a comprehensive review of the epidemiological considerations, clinical findings and management strategies for depression associated with epilepsy.

Prevalence and associated factors of anxiety disorder symptoms among people with epilepsy in Mekelle, Ethiopia, 2019: Institutional‐based cross‐sectional study

“…Epilepsy is one of the common neurological disorders in the world affecting a person's social, psychological and physiological well‐being. (Dessie et al., 2019; Mammen & Sathesh Kumar, 2017; Yerdelen & Altintas, 2015). Psychologically, epilepsy leads to the most frequent complications affecting the quality of life of PWE more than the seizures itself (Gaitatzis et al., 2004; Mammen & Sathesh Kumar, 2017; Verrotti et al., 2014).…”

“…A study revealed that around 50–60 million peoples live with epilepsy and up to 60% of them experienced anxiety and/or depression (Keezer et al., 2015; Mbewe et al., 2013). Emotional disorders, especially anxiety is the most frequently co‐occurred illness in people with epilepsy than among the general population (Alsaadi et al., 2015; Amruth et al., 2014a; Dessie et al., 2019; Gaitatzis et al., 2004; Keezer et al., 2015; Lacey et al., 2009; Li, 2017; Mammen & Sathesh Kumar, 2017; Verrotti et al., 2014).…”

“…(Dessie et al., 2019; Mammen & Sathesh Kumar, 2017; Yerdelen & Altintas, 2015). Psychologically, epilepsy leads to the most frequent complications affecting the quality of life of PWE more than the seizures itself (Gaitatzis et al., 2004; Mammen & Sathesh Kumar, 2017; Verrotti et al., 2014). The effect of epilepsy is not only limited to the exposed individuals but also to the patient's cohabiting relatives to various degrees (Yerdelen & Altintas, 2015).…”

Prevalence and associated factors of depression among people with epilepsy in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019.

“…Psychiatric comorbidities, especially depression (8)(9)(10)(11) and anxiety disorders, seem to be the most frequent complications of epilepsy and reduce quality of life beyond seizures itself and affect the clinical course of epilepsy (5,(12)(13)(14)(15). A population-based study in the United Kingdom indicated that 30.6% of PWE have depression (1).…”