Citation

Wen X, Meador KJ, Loring DW, Eisenschenk S, Segal R, Hartzema AG. Epilepsy Behav. 2010; 19(3): 494-500.

Affiliation

Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.yebeh.2010.08.030

PMID

20880757

Abstract

Depression and suicide are increased in patients with epilepsy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are associated with increased risk of suicidality. This study examines the relationship among depression, suicidal ideation, and AEDs in a prospective cohort of 163 patients with epilepsy from a registry at the University of Florida (January 2006 to August 2008). The Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E) was used to measure mood and suicidal ideation across two time points (median=154days). Groups included: (1) No AED Change, (2) New AED Added, (3) AED Dose Increased, (4) AED Reduced/Stopped, (5) Multiple AED Changes, and (6) Combined Any AED Change (groups 2-5 combined). No group had worsening mood or suicidal ideation. Significant improvements in proportions of depression and suicidal ideation were seen only for the No AED Change group, which differed only with the AED Dose Increased group with respect to suicidal ideation.

Language: en