title: Suicidality and Its Risk Factors in Korean People with Epilepsy: A MEPSY Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  People with epilepsy (PWE) are more likely to experience suicidality, with suicidal ideation and attempts, than people without epilepsy (PWoE). The aims of the present study were to determine 1) the characteristics of suicidality in Korean PWE, 2) whether PWE with suicidality receive psychiatric intervention, and 3) the risk factors for suicidality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who consecutively visited epilepsy clinics at secondary- and tertiary-care hospitals were recruited (n=684), along with age- and sex-matched PWoE (n=229). The presence of current major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and/or suicidality was established using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus Version 5.0.0. The Korean version of the Liverpool Adverse Events Profile (K-LAEP) was applied to detect adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suicidality was present in 208 (30.4%) of the 684 PWE. The rate of suicidality was 4.6 times higher among PWE than PWoE, and 108 (15.7%) PWE had suicidal ideation and had attempted suicide. Among those who had attempted suicide, 40.7% had made at least two attempts. The most common method of suicide attempt was drug overdose (34.9%). Unfortunately, of the 208 PWE with suicidality, 136 (65.4%) did not receive psychiatric intervention. The risk factors for suicidality were MDD [odds ratio (OR)=6.448, 95% confidence interval (CI)=3.739-11.120, p<0.001], GAD (OR=3.561, 95% CI=1.966-6.452, p<0.001), item scores of 3 or 4 on the K-LAEP (OR=2.688, 95% CI=1.647-4.387, p<0.001), and a history of febrile convulsion (OR= 2.188, 95% CI=1.318-3.632, p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suicidality is more prevalent in PWE than in PWoE. Clinicians should monitor psychiatric disorders and the adverse effects of AEDs in PWE in an attempt to reduce the incidence of suicidal ideation or suicide attempts in this patient population.
authors: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Jong-Geun
authors: JG
authors: Seo
authors: Department of Neurology, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Jang-Joon
authors: JJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Neurology, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Yong Won
authors: YW
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Neurology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Se-Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Neurology, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Ji-Eun
authors: JE
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Neurology, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Hye-Jin
authors: HJ
authors: Moon
authors: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Sung-Pa
authors: SP
authors: Park
keywords: adverse effect; anxiety; depression; epilepsy; risk factor; suicide
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