Depression in People with Epilepsy. What is the Connection?

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is the most common psychiatric comorbidity in people with epilepsy. It worsens the prognosis and quality of life of these patients. Despite this, depression is poorly diagnosed and when the treatment is given, it is frequently suboptimal.

Objective: To perform a narrative review of the medical literature, seeking to collect useful information regarding the relationship between epilepsy and depression.

Results: Narrative reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials, and follow-up studies were identified in English and Spanish with no time limit, including epidemiological, clinical, associated factors, etiological explanations, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to comorbid depression in epilepsy.

Conclusion: The relationship between epilepsy and depression is complex. The available scientific evidence suggests the possibility of a bidirectional relationship that could be explained from common aetiopathogenic mechanisms. Despite the high prevalence of depression in epileptic patients, this mental disorder continues to be poorly identified by clinicians. To improve this, we have easy-to-apply instruments that routinely screen this patient population and contribute substantially to making the problem more visible and seek to improve the quality of life for this population.

Keywords: Comorbidity; Comorbilidad; Depresión; Depression; Diagnosis; Diagnóstico; Epilepsia; Epilepsy; Tratamiento; Treatment.