Psychiatric comorbidity and use of psychotropic drugs in epilepsy patients.
OBJECTIVE
Although epilepsy is associated with a high rate of psychiatric comorbidity, clinicians may withhold treatment with psychotropic drugs for fear of worsening seizures. We have assessed the occurrence of psychiatric disorders in a cohort of epilepsy patients and used the results to discuss this important topic.


METHODS
Based on a questionnaire we made a survey of psychiatric symptoms in 167 adult patients referred to a tertial epilepsy center. The mean age was 42 years, and 72% had active epilepsy.


RESULTS
Forty three patients (26%) had a psychiatric disorder, and 22 patients (13%) used psychotropic drugs. The most frequent diagnoses were mood disorders and anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with the general population, people with epilepsy have an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. Patients with uncontrolled seizures are most vulnerable. These disorders appear to be under-diagnosed and under-treated, and the fear that psychotropic drugs can cause seizure exacerbation is probably overstated.
Henning
O J
OJ
National Centre for Epilepsy, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. oliver.henning@epilepsy.no
Nakken
K O
KO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs