Epilepsy and depression: risk factors for suicide?
Compared to the general population, the suicide rate in epilepsy is 5-fold increased. In particular, patients with temporal lobe epilepsy have a 25-fold increased risk of suicide. Certain psychiatric disorders, including primary mood disorders, also increase the risk for suicide. Among people with epilepsy, psychiatric comorbidity is common, with an elevated rate of Major Depression. A review of the literature about the association between epilepsy, depression and suicide highlights the lack of evaluation of intensity, pervasiveness and characteristics of suicidal ideation in epileptic patients compared with patients with a diagnosis of Major Depression.
Mazza
M
M
Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. mariannamazza@hotmail.com
Orsucci
F
F
De Risio
S
S
Bria
P
P
Mazza
S
S
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide