Citation

Monté MC, Van Den Ameele H, De Fruyt J. Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde 2007; 63(4): 134-139.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007)

DOI

10.2143/TVG.63.04.2000027

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Epilepsy patients bear a higher risk for developing a major depression. Multiple mechanisms may be involved in the pathophysiology. The prevalence of depression in epilepsy patients is prone to be underestimated due to the atypical clinical presentation and a number of methodological problems. Depression in epilepsy patients can be divided in an ictal, peri-ictal and interictal depression. Although their exact prevalence is unknown, the interictal depression is thought to be the most frequent. An adequate treatment is of major importance because of the influence of a depression as well on the overall outcome of epilepsy, as on the quality of life and the increased suicide risk. Treatment should include pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Knowledge of the mood-modulating side effects of anti-epileptic drugs, the convulsive side effects of psychotropics and the pharmacodynamic interactions of both drug categories constitute important issues in the treatment.

Language: nl

Keywords

human; prognosis; quality of life; psychotherapy; prevalence; suicide attempt; major depression; epilepsy; article; anticonvulsive agent; clinical feature; pathophysiology; side effect; mood change