title: Psychotropic medication use in patients with epilepsy: effect on seizure frequency.
abstract: Physicians are often reluctant to use psychotropic medications in epilepsy patients with psychiatric disorders because of concern over the potential risk for lowering seizure threshold. This study assesses retrospectively the impact of psychotropic medications on seizure frequency in 57 patients seen consecutively at an epilepsy center. During psychotropic drug therapy, seizure frequency decreased in 33% of patients, was unchanged in 44%, and increased in 23%. Mean seizure frequency was not statistically different between pre-treatment and treatment periods (t = 0.23, df = 56). Simultaneous adjustments in antiepileptic drug regimen could not account for the findings. Results support the position that psychotropic medications, introduced slowly in low to moderate doses, can be safely used in epilepsy patients with comorbid psychiatric pathology during the regular course of clinical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Devinsky
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Westbrook
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wharton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alper
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs