Depression and Anxiety Disorders in Focal Epilepsy Patients

Abstract

Scientific background: Depression and anxiety disorders are more common in people with epilepsy than in the general population. Depression has been reported in 10-30%, and anxiety disorders in 15-25% among epilepsy patients and these values can be changed indifferent studies. Futhermore they increase in drug resistance cases. Objectives: The aim of this study is ta emphasize the depression and anxiety disorders among focal epilepsy patients in our clinic and search the relationship between depression-anxiety disorders and seizure features, lesion localization and medication treatments. Materials and methods: Ninety-four patients with focal epilepsy were included in the study. Hamilton depression scale and Hamiton anxiety inventory were used for evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms. Results: Depression was present in 23,4% and anxiety disorders in47.8% in focal epilepsy patients when compared ta control. There were no relationships between depression or anxiety and the duration of epilepsy, age of seizure onset, localization of lesion and the type of treatment (mono-poly therapy). Conclusion: Depression and anxiety disorders are common in focal epilepsy patients and psychiatric support has to be given at an early stage.