ARTICLEInterictal dysphoric disorder: a frequent psychiatric comorbidity among patients with epilepsy who were followed in two tertiary centers
ABSTRACTPsychiatric disorders are frequent among patients with epilepsy. Data in the literature have shown a heterogeneous clinical presentation of psychiatric disorders in patients with epilepsy. Interictal dysphoric disorder could be a specific psychiatric comorbidity associated with epilepsy, primarily in patients treated in tertiary centers. Objective: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of interictal dysphoric disorder among patients with epilepsy who were followed in two tertiary epilepsy services in Brazil. Method: Sixty-five patients with epilepsy completed the Portuguese version of the Interictal Dysphoric Disorder Inventory. Results: Thirty-three (50.7%) patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for interictal dysphoric disorder, although all participants answered positively to having at least one key symptom. Conclusion: The high rate of patients with epilepsy who fulfilled the diagnosis of interictal dysphoric disorder confirms an association between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. However, there is clearly a need to improve diagnostic tools to allow better differentiation between interictal dysphoric disorder and other psychiatric disorders.Keywords: epilepsy, interictal dysphoric disorder, psychiatric disorders.
RESUMOTranstornos psiquiátricos são frequentes entre pacientes com epilepsia. Estudos evidenciam apresentações clínicas heterogêneas neste grupo. O transtorno disfórico interictal pode um transtorno específico destes pacientes, particularmente naqueles acompanhados em centros terciários. Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de transtorno disfórico interictal entre pacientes com epilepsia atendidos em dois serviços terciários de epilepsia do Brasil. Método: Sessenta e cinco pacientes foram convidados a responder a versão brasileira do Interictal Dysphoric Disorder Inventory adaptado e validado para o Português. Resultados: Trinta e três pacientes (50,7%) preencheram critérios para transtorno disfórico interictal, embora todos os entrevistados tenham afirmado que são acometidos por ao menos um dos sintomas-chave. Conclusão: A alta prevalência de transtorno disfórico interictal em pacientes com epilepsia pode ser um indício da associação entre epilepsia e transtornos psiquiátricos. No entanto, é necessário melhorar a acurácia dos instrumentos de diagnóstico para poder diferenciar casos de transtorno disfórico interictal de outros transtornos psiquiátricos.Palavras-chave: epilepsia, transtorno disfórico interictal, transtornos psiquiátricos.