Prospective case-control study of interictal depression and suicidal ideation in Nigerians with epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
Co-morbid depression and suicidal ideation in people with epilepsy (PWE) in developing countries are under-recognised, and so may be consequently undertreated. This study was designed to determine the frequency and clinical correlates of interictal depression and suicidal ideation in PWE.


METHODS
Using a prospective design, we evaluated 96 PWE and two groups of controls (103 age- and sex-matched population controls and 13 persons with DSM - IV diagnosis of major depression (controls with depression - CWD) without epilepsy. Depression was assessed using Zung Self-rating depression scale (scores =40 indicating depression).


RESULTS
Depression was more prevalent in PWE (25/96 i.e. 26.0%) than normal controls (10/103 i.e. 9.7%) (P = 0.004). Suicidal ideation scores were similar for depressed PWE and depressed normal controls (1.7 +/-1.0 v. 1.5 +/- 1.0; P>0.05), but significantly higher in CWD (2.61.3; P=0.04). Among PWE, mean duration of epilepsy (years) was the only variable significantly related to depression (i.e. 12.7 8.8 in depressed PWE v. 8.3 6.6 in non-depressed PWE (P=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptomatology is a frequent co-morbidity in our tertiary care population of PWE. However, suicidal ideation is less common in contrast to persons with major depression.
Okubadejo
N U
NU
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. njide_okubadejo@yahoo.com
Danesi
M A
MA
Aina
O F
OF
Ojini
F I
FI
Adeyemi
J D
JD
Olorunshola
D A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*