Symptomatic and drug factors contributing to undiagnosed depression in epilepsy

Depression extends notably into the epileptic population in the U.S. in rates of up to 55%. Despite the relatively high rates of depression found in epileptic patients, the rate of diagnosis is significantly lower. This study evaluates symptomatic trends found in depressed epileptics, as well as pharmacological factors surrounding depression in epilepsy, to ascertain possible reasons for the lack of diagnosis of depression in epileptic patients. Antidepressants, most notably SSRIs, possess significantly fewer side effects and interactions with anti-epileptics than antidepressants from older generations. The features of epileptic depression are more endogenous than neurotic. Depression is often neglected in busy health clinics as epilepsy and other conditions are regarded to be of greater severity and importance than depression. In order to increase the diagnosis of depression in epileptics clinicians need to implement quick, non-DSM-IV-centered screening questionnaires.