Are antidepressants really safe and effective in people with epilepsy and depression?

Abstract

SUMMARY This commentary gives a very brief overview of depression in epilepsy (prevalence, risk, associations between the two conditions, antidepressant medication) and assesses the quality and results of a Cochrane Review comparing antidepressants with placebo and psychotherapy in managing the condition. Although antidepressants were not shown to be more effective than other interventions and no link between antidepressants and increased seizure frequency was observed, the low-quality evidence obtained cannot provide conclusive answers.

Neurodevelopmental disorders including intellectual disability: a clinical tool kit for mental health professionals

“…The issue opens with a Cochrane Corner summary of the findings Maguire and colleagues’ (2022) review evaluating the efficacy and safety of antidepressants for treating depressive symptoms in people with epilepsy and depression and the effect on seizures, which is followed by with a commentary by Makan (2022).…”