[Presence of depressive disorder among patients with epilepsy in relation to the duration of illness and type of antiepileptic therapy].
BACKGROUND
Interictal depression as a co morbid disorder can be seen among more than 40% of patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy duration as well as selected antiepileptic drugs can be suitable for the development of depressive disorder in many aspects.


OBJECTIVE
To test relation between depressive disorder in patients with epilepsy, duration of illness and type of antiepileptic therapy.


METHODS
Prospectively, by random selection, we have tested 300 patients with epilepsy, with or without depressive affective disorder at the Outpatient Department for Epilepsies in the Clinical Center of Sarajevo University. All patients answered Beck and Hamilton depression scales.


RESULTS
This research involved male patients which made 54% of baseline at the average age of 37.7 years SD = 12.86, as well as female patients at average age of 32.83 years SD = 12.26. Depressive disorder according to the results at the Beck scale was present in 34%, and according to the Hamilton scale in 38.9% of patients. Carbamazepin as monotherapy was applied for more than a half of the baseline, Phenobarbital as monotherapy and combined with Carbamazepin significantly more frequently among men's (p < 0.0001). Duration of illnesses longer than 20 years had 56% women with the expressed depressive disorder, compared to the 42% men's with depression (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive disorder occurs significantly more frequently among women with the longer epilepsy duration, as well as among male patients who had Phenobarbital as single or add on therapy.
Mehmedika-Suljić
Enra
E
Klinika za neurologiju, Klinicki centar Univerziteta u Sarajevu. enra@lol.ba
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000927:Anticonvulsants