Citation

Schmitz B. Zeitschrift fur Epileptologie 2009; 22(3): 152-155.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009)

DOI

10.1007/s10309-009-0036-y

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Recent literature on the frequency of suicidal behavior in epilepsy with respect to potential risk factors is summarized. Suicide rates reported in the literature vary considerably, whereby higher suicide rates have been described for more severe types of epilepsies (patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, institutionalized patients, and patients having undergone epilepsy surgery). Because all anticonvulsants can act as potential negative psychotropic drugs, the information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about an increased suicide rate in context with anticonvulsive medication studies is not surprising. The complex associations between epilepsy, frequency of seizures, treatment as well as mood and suicidality are discussed. The FDA warning of an increased risk for suicidal behavior after the use of anticonvulsants is discussed with respect to the statistical evidence and clinical consequences. © Springer 2009.

Language: de

Keywords

human; Depression; suicide; Suicide; Epilepsy; drug use; suicidal behavior; mood disorder; morbidity; epilepsy; article; anticonvulsive agent; barbituric acid derivative; drug safety; food and drug administration; seizure; carbamazepine; drug information; valproic acid; high risk patient; felbamate; gabapentin; lamotrigine; topiramate; vigabatrin; phenytoin; pregabalin; anticonvulsant therapy; drug approval; Anticonvulsants; tiagabine; etiracetam; zonisamide; ethosuximide