title: Epilepsy coexisting with depression.
abstract: Depression episodes in epilepsy is the most common commorbidity, affecting between 11% and 62% of patients with epilepsy. Although researchers have documented a strong association between epilepsy and psychiatric comorbidities, the nature of this relationship is poorly understood. The manifestation of depression in epilepsy is a complex issue having many interacting neurobiological and psychosocial determinants, including clinical features of epilepsy (seizure frequency, type, foci, or lateralization of foci) and neurochemical or iatrogenic mechanisms. Other risk factors are a family history of psychiatric illness, particularly depression, a lack of control over the seizures and iatrogenic causes (pharmacologic and surgical). In addition, treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) as well as social coping and adaptation skills have also been recognised as risk factors of depression associated with epilepsy. Epilepsy may foster the development of depression through being exposed to chronic stress. The uncertainty and unpredictability of seizures may instigate sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach in patients with epilepsy and lead to social isolation, stigmatization, or disability. Often, depression is viewed as a reaction to epilepsy's stigma and the associated poor quality of life. Moreover, patients with epilepsy display a 4-5 higher rate of depression and suicide compared with healthy population.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, High School of Economics, Law and Medical Sciences, Kielce, Poland; Private Neurological Practice, Kielce, Poland. Electronic address: barbarablaszczyk@op.pl.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Błaszczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland; Department of Physiopathology, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: czuczwarsj@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Stanisław J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Czuczwar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Antidepressants; Antiepileptics; Depression; Epilepsy