title: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors prolong seizures - preliminary results from an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often used in the treatment of depressive disorders in patients with epilepsy. Pro- and anti-convulsive effects of SSRIs are discussed controversially. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible impact of SSRIs-treatment on duration of EEG and clinical features in epilepsy patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied video-EEG data from 162 patients with focal epilepsies between January 2006 and March 2008 using a case-control study design. Eleven patients with 19 complex focal seizures (CFSs) and 16 secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (sGTCSs) treated with SSRIs (SSRIs+) were matched to 13 patients without SSRIs-treatment (SSRIs-). We compared duration of ictal EEG in CFSs and sGTCSs, duration of convulsions in sGTCSs and duration of postictal EEG suppression after sGTCSs in SSRIs+ and SSRIs- patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ictal EEG duration of both, CFSs and sGTCSs, was significantly longer in SSRIs+ patients than in SSRIs- patients (p=0.004 and p=0.015, respectively). No significant difference was found between convulsive phase duration of sGTCSs as well as duration of postictal EEG suppression after sGTCSs in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seizures last significantly longer in patients with epilepsy and SSRIs as co-medication. A causative role of SSRIs in ictal activity has to be explored in prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Paracelsus Medical University, Christian Doppler Klinik, Ignaz Harrer Straße 79, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria; Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: j.dobesberger@salk.at.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dobesberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Epileptology, Neurology Clinic, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: aristic@eunet.rs.
authors.forename: Aleksandar J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ristic
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: gerald.walser@uki.at.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walser
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Paracelsus Medical University, Christian Doppler Klinik, Ignaz Harrer Straße 79, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria; Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: j.hoefler@salk.at.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Höfler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: iris.unterberger@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Unterberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Paracelsus Medical University, Christian Doppler Klinik, Ignaz Harrer Straße 79, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria; Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: e.trinka@salk.at.
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trinka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: Antidepressants; Focal epilepsies; Seizure duration; Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; Video-EEG monitoring