RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The association between epilepsy and depressive illness has long been established. However, though various explanations-psychosocial and anatomical-have been proposed findings from studies are inconsistent and often contradictory. AIMS: This study aimed to compare the features of those people with epilepsy seen in a secondary care setting who developed a depressive illness with those that did not. METHOD: Information regarding the patient's epilepsy, history and presence of depressive illness and perceived social functioning was gathered from case notes, questionnaire and patient interview. RESULTS: The experience of a depressive episode was associated with the presence of a right sided lesion, attacks occurring more than once each month, diagnosis made in adulthood and a perceived marked effect of the epilepsy on mobility and social activity. CONCLUSION: These findings are not all consistent with work already carried out in this field. However, they do point to a multifactorial aetiology of depressive illness in this group as is the case in the general population. Possible explanations for frequently contradictory findings are discussed.
Assuntos
Transtorno Depressivo/diagnóstico , Epilepsia/psicologia , Atividades Cotidianas/psicologia , Adulto , Córtex Cerebral/fisiopatologia , Transtorno Depressivo/fisiopatologia , Transtorno Depressivo/psicologia , Dominância Cerebral/fisiologia , Epilepsia/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , Papel do Doente , Ajustamento SocialRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The association between epilepsy and depressive illness has long been established. However, though various explanations-psychosocial and anatomical-have been proposed findings from studies are inconsistent and often contradictory. AIMS: This study aimed to compare the features of those people with epilepsy seen in a secondary care setting who developed a depressive illness with those that did not. METHOD: Information regarding the patient's epilepsy, history and presence of depressive illness and perceived social functioning was gathered from case notes, questionnaire and patient interview. RESULTS: The experience of a depressive episode was associated with the presence of a right-sided lesion, attacks occurring more than once each month, diagnosis made in adulthood and a perceived marked effect of the epilepsy on mobility and social activity. CONCLUSION: These findings are not all consistent with work already carried out in this field. However, they do point to a multifactorial aetiology of depressive illness in this group as is the case in the general population. Possible explanations for frequently contradictory findings are discussed.
