Antidepressants for people with epilepsy and depression
Abstract
Background Depressive disorders are the most common psychiatric comorbidity in people with epilepsy, affecting around one-third, with a significant negative impact on quality of life. There is concern that people may not be receiving appropriate treatment for their depression because of uncertainty regarding which antidepressant or class works best, and the perceived risk of exacerbating seizures. This review aimed to address these issues, and inform clinical practice and future research. This is an updated version of the original Cochrane Review published in Issue 12, 2014. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antidepressants in treating depressive symptoms and the effect on seizure recurrence, in people with epilepsy and depression. Search methods For this update, we searched CRS Web, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and ClinicalTrials.gov (February 2021). We searched the World Health Organization Clinical Trials Registry in October 2019, but were unable to update it because it was inaccessible. There were no language restrictions. Selection criteria We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective non-randomised studies of interventions (NRSIs), investigating children or adults with epilepsy, who were treated with an antidepressant and compared to placebo, comparative antidepressant, psychotherapy, or no treatment for depressive symptoms. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The primary outcomes were changes in depression scores (proportion with a greater th…
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In diseases such as epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, traumatic brain injury, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, few or no RCTs of antidepressant treatment for comorbid MDD have been conducted.
“In other diseases – such as epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, traumatic brain injury, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – few or no RCTs of antidepressant treatment for comorbid MDD have been conducted295-301”
From Comorbidity between major depressive disorder and physical diseases: a comprehensive review of epidemiology, mechanisms and management (2023) · cites this paper as [295]
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Berk, M., Köhler‐Forsberg, O., Turner, M., Penninx, B. W. J. H., Wrobel, A., Firth, J., Loughman, A., Reavley, N. J., McGrath, J. J., Momen, N. C., et al. (2023) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.21110 · Cited by 336 · see citing works
- Authors
- Maguire, M. J., Marson, A. G., & Nevitt, S. J.
- Affiliations
- Leeds General Infirmary (GB)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Venue
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2021-04-16
- Volume
- 2021
- Issue
- 4
- ISSN
- 1361-6137 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-1858
- OpenAlex
- W4246772785
- Cited by
- 57
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 3 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 1.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Epilepsy research and treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- antidepressants, epilepsy, depression, psychiatric comorbidity, seizure recurrence, status epilepticus, cognitive behavioral therapy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, adverse events, quality of life, cognitive function, treatment withdrawal, children and adolescents, adults, psychotherapy comparison
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