Relationship Between Epilepsy And Psychiatric Disorders Such As Depression And Anxiety

Relação Entre Epilepsia E Transtornos Psiquiátricos Como Depressão E Ansiedade

Abstract

Introduction: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that affects a significant portion of the global population, with an estimated prevalence of around 50 million people. When associated with psychiatric comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety, it can have a profound impact on the quality of life of these patients, in addition to exacerbating fear and stress related to seizures, leading to lower treatment engagement and, consequently, worse clinical outcomes. Objectives: To describe the relationship between epilepsy and psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, in order to understand the prevalence, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and implications for the integrated clinical management of these conditions.

Methods: This is a review article using studies from the last five years, searched in the PubMed/MedLine and Virtual Health Library databases, employing the Boolean search strategy ("epilepsy" AND "depression" AND "mental disorders" AND "anxiety"). Only full-text articles involving adult individuals were included, while review articles were excluded. Additionally, relevant and well-established articles in the field were incorporated.

Results: The findings indicate that the prevalence of depression in patients with epilepsy ranges from 20% to 55%, while anxiety is observed in approximately 15% to 34% of patients. The review identified pathophysiological mechanisms, such as neurotransmitter dysfunctions, structural brain changes, and the adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs, which contribute to the high prevalence of these psychiatric comorbidities. These conditions were associated with a significant deterioration in quality of life and difficulties in controlling epileptic seizures.

Conclusion: The conclusion of this study reinforces the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing patients with epilepsy and psychiatric comorbidities, aiming to improve clinical outcomes and the quality of life of these patients.