PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 13678563

Complex partial seizures and depression.

Brian A Greenlee·Richard B Ferrell·Christopher I Kauffman·Thomas W McAllister
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

A long-recognized association exists between epilepsy and affective disturbance, especially depression. People with complex partial seizures that result from temporal lobe seizure foci are highly vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. Accurate diagnosis of such disorders is an important key to treatment. Interictal depression or dysphoria is the most clinically significant problem of this type. Pharmacotherapeutic treatments that have positive effects in other types of depressive illness are also effective for depression associated with epilepsy. Electroconvulsive therapy is helpful to some patients with depression that is refractory to drug treatment or psychotherapy. Surgical resection of seizure foci may lead to psychiatric improvement for some individuals, but can also have psychiatric complications.

Explore related subjects

AnticonvulsantsAntidepressive AgentsDepressive DisorderElectroconvulsive TherapyEpilepsy, Complex PartialHumansPsychosurgeryTemporal LobeTreatment OutcomeJournal ArticleReview

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Brian A Greenlee, Richard B Ferrell, Christopher I Kauffman, Thomas W McAllister. 2003. Complex partial seizures and depression.. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-003-0076-3

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2004

Second-line anticonvulsant treatment of neonatal seizures: a video-EEG monitoring study.

The authors conducted a randomized trial of second-line anticonvulsant treatments for neonates. The response to treatment was assessed using continuous video-EEG because the clinical diagnosis of seizure in neonates is known to be unreliable. Of 27 neonates with EEG-confirmed seizures, 5 were excluded because of protocol violations, and 11 responded to phenobarbitone in a dose of 40 mg/kg as first line. Three of five neonates treated with lignocaine responded. Six neonates were treated with benzodiazepines as second line: None responded, and their neurodevelopmental outcome was poor.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2004

Zonisamide treatment for symptomatic infantile spasms.

The authors evaluated zonisamide for symptomatic infantile spasms in 23 patients. Spasm cessation, EEG evolution, and tolerability were assessed for a mean duration of 6.5 months. Six patients (26%) had complete control with cessation of spasms and clearing of hypsarrhythmia. Mean latency time from onset of zonisamide treatment to complete spasm control was 19 days. There were no discontinuations due to adverse effects.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2004

Updates on the treatment of epilepsy in women.

Epilepsy is a condition of the central nervous system that is characterized by recurrent seizures. The goal of management is to make patients seizure free without intolerable adverse effects from treatment. Men and women differ in their physiologic makeup and therefore have different needs that must be considered when attempting to attain this goal. There are special concerns for women of child-bearing years with regard to contraception, pregnancy, and teratogenicity that should be considered during counseling and selection of appropriate treatment. There are also emerging concerns about the interaction of antiepileptic drugs and endocrine function that can affect ovarian function, induce polycystic ovary (PCO)-like syndrome, and threaten fertility. Systemic adverse effects can have a negative impact on weight, cosmetic appearance, sexual function, and bone health. Individualized treatment coupling antiepileptic drug use and the specific phase of impact of the reproductive cycle must be considered in treatment selection. Important concerns regarding long-term therapy are being raised as there are more treatment options to consider because of the plethora of new antiepileptic drugs that are available, often with more favorable pharmacokinetics and different adverse event profiles. Also, sex hormone fluctuations during maturation may exacerbate seizures at particular points during the life cycle for women, including menarche, during menses, during pregnancy, or later in the perimenopausal years, often presenting a uniquely challenging aspect to treatment. As the number of available treatment options for epilepsy increases, the optimal goal for primary care physicians is to work as a team with obstetricians, gynecologists, and neurologists in an effort to ensure the best treatment of women with epilepsy.

Anticonvulsants↗