https://www.epilepsy.org.

uk/info/depressionIntroducti
on
Depression is common. It affects nearly one in six people in the UK. Anyone can experience
depression. However, many studies show that it is more common if you have a long-term health
condition lie epilepsy. !here is also some research which suggests that depression increases
the ris of developing epilepsy.
"very#ody feels down from time to time and this is $uite normal. If you have #een feeling low for
a long time, and this is affecting your daily life, you may #e experiencing depression. Depression
may also cause people to #e more anxious, to have a %short fuse& or to develop pro#lems with
their memory.
!his information is for you if you are worried that you might #e depressed.
About depression
'e might feel unhappy from time to time with the normal ups and downs of life. (ometimes the
things that happen in our day-to-day lives can mae us feel fed up, worried or distressed. !his is
not the same as having depression.
Depression #ecomes a medical pro#lem when it gets in the way of your day-to-day life. !he
feelings usually last for several wees, or they eep coming #ac.
Depression can show up in different ways. )ecause symptoms of depression can appear to #e
physical rather than emotional, they can #e missed or put down to something else.
'hen you are depressed you will pro#a#ly have at least five or six of the symptoms #elow.
Feeling unhappy most of the time (but may feel a little better in the evenings)
Loss of interest in life and can't enjoy anything
Finding it harder to make decisions
Being unable to cope with things that you used to
Feeling tired
Feeling restless and agitated
Loss of appetite and weight (some people fnd they do the opposite and gain
weight)
aking longer to get to sleep! and then wake up earlier than usual
Loss of interest in se"
Loss of self#confdence
Feeling useless! inade$uate and hopeless
%voiding other people
Feeling irritable
Feeling worse at a particular time each day! usually in the morning
hinking of suicide
Depression can #e mild, moderate or severe. *ot all periods of depression go on for a long time.
)ut without help, it can last for months or even years.
Causes of depression
(ometimes there seem to #e o#vious reasons for developing depression. Here are some
examples of reasons why some people #ecome depressed.
Bereavement
&ivorce
% traumatic event
Losing a job
Family history of depression
'ome physical conditions
&iet
'treet drugs and alcohol
'ei(ures
'ide#e)ects of epilepsy medicines
!he reasons for #ecoming depressed will #e different for different people. +or example, not
everyone who experiences a #ereavement or traumatic life event will go on to #ecome
depressed. ,eople who have a condition that affects the #rain or nervous system may #ecome
depressed. "pilepsy is a condition that affects the #rain.
Epilepsy and depression
-ne in every three people with epilepsy will experience some form of depression during their
lifetime. !he lins #etween epilepsy and depression are complicated. Having depression can #e
a ris for developing epilepsy. .any studies show that depression is more common in people
with epilepsy than in people who do not have epilepsy.
/iving with epilepsy can affect people in different ways. "veryone reacts differently. 0ou might
find it hard to accept a diagnosis of epilepsy. And it might tae time to ad1ust to the changes in
your life.
'hen you have epilepsy, there might #e several things that could contri#ute to you #ecoming
depressed. Here are some examples.
*ontinuing to have sei(ures
Being afraid of having sei(ures
+aving side#e)ects from epilepsy medicines
+aving problems at work
+aving social or relationship or family problems
Seizures and depression
+or some people, depression is lined to sei2ures. It can #e experienced #efore, during, or after
a sei2ure. Depression might happen hours #efore a sei2ure. (ome people with epilepsy also
experience a sudden worsening of their mood as the first part of their sei2ures 3during their aura4.
!his is more common in people with temporal lo#e epilepsies. 'hen depression happens after a
sei2ure, it might not start for several hours. It could #e delayed for up to seven days afterwards.
,eople whose sei2ures are not controlled #y epilepsy medicines have a higher ris of
experiencing depression.
"vidence suggests that depression can also mae epilepsy worse. )eing depressed could cause
your sleep patterns to #e distur#ed. -r it may cause you to miss doses of your epilepsy
medicines. )oth of these things can #e a trigger for sei2ures for some people.
Epilepsy medicines and depression
.ost people with epilepsy do not experience any pro#lems with their mood or emotions as side-
effects of taing epilepsy medicines.
However, for some people, their epilepsy medicines can affect their mood, and cause depression
as a side-effect. ,eople who have a personal or family history of depression are more at ris of
this.
!hese are the epilepsy medicines said to carry the highest ris of causing depression.
,igabatrin
-henobarbital (phenobarbitone)
Levetiracetam
.onisamide
opiramate
iagabine
*lona(epam
Depressive episodes may #e dose-related with some epilepsy medicines #ut not others. !his
means that the higher the dose you are taing, the more liely you are to #ecome depressed.
,eople who tae more than one type of epilepsy medicine may have an increased ris of
experiencing depression.
If you feel that your epilepsy medicines are affecting your mood or emotions, it is advisa#le to
tal to your family doctor or epilepsy specialist.
It is important that you do not 1ust stop taing your epilepsy medicines. If you suddenly stop
taing them, this could cause you to have more fre$uent and severe sei2ures.
reatments for depression
.any people with mild depression will get #etter without treatment. However, some people need
treatment for their depression. !he treatment you are offered for your depression will depend on
how seriously it is affecting you. (ome people will need a com#ination of treatments, including
psychological treatments or anti-depressant medicines.
,sychological treatment is a general term. It is used to descri#e when you meet with someone
trained to tal a#out feelings. It helps you to loo at your thoughts and feelings and how these
affect your life and your well#eing.
If you are very unwell, and treatments don&t help, or you are considered to #e at ris of suicide,
you could #e admitted to hospital.
0ou might see different people for the treatment of your depression and the treatment of your
epilepsy. If this is the case, there should #e a care plan to say who is responsi#le for different
parts of your treatment and care. 0our treatment and care should tae into account what you
want and need.
)elow are some guidelines for the treatment of depression that are recommended #y the
*ational Institute for Health and 5are "xcellence 3*I5"4.
Acti!e monitoring
!his is for mild depression. It means monitoring you while waiting to see if your depression goes
away without treatment, which mild depression often does.
Cogniti!e beha!ioural therapy"C#$
!his is a type of psychological treatment. It has #een proven to help treat depression in people
with and without epilepsy.
!he aim of 5)! is to help loo at and change any negative thoughts and feelings. It helps you to
cope with life&s challenges #etter. 5)! cannot remove your pro#lems, #ut can help you manage
them in a more positive way.
5)! has #een shown to #e very helpful at tacling pro#lems such as depression. It is usually
carried out with a therapist on a one-to-one #asis, #ut can also tae the form of6
group therapy / with others who wish to tackle a similar problem! or
a self#help book / where you carry out e"ercises from the book! or
a computer program / known as computerised *B (**B)0
Counselling
!his is another form of psychological treatment. It gives you the chance to tal through everyday
issues that may #e causing your depression, and loos at ways to resolve them.
%indfulness&based cogniti!e therapy "%#C$
!his involves taing time to see what is happening around you, rather than going over your
pro#lems again and again. It is a way that people can change the way they thin and feel a#out
their experiences, and involves techni$ues lie yoga and meditation. .indfulness-#ased
cognitive therapy is often done in groups.
E'ercise
7egular exercise can #e very effective in lifting your mood and increasing your energy levels.
"xercise is something you can do for yourself #ut it is also recommended as a treatment for
depression in the *I5" guidelines. (ome family doctors will give you a prescription for exercise,
referring you to a programme at a local gym or health centre.
Complementary treatments
(ome people use complementary treatments to try and improve their $uality of life. !reatments
include acupuncture, massage, her#al treatments, homeopathy, and aromatherapy. (ome people
with depression find these treatments helpful.
It&s really important to spea with your doctor or epilepsy nurse #efore you try any
complementary or alternative treatments. !his is #ecause some treatments can trigger sei2ures
for some people with epilepsy. And these treatments may interact with your epilepsy medicines.
An example of this is (t 8ohn&s 'ort, a her#al treatment that you can #uy without a prescription
at a pharmacy. It is used to treat people with mild depression. Information from the )ritish
*ational +ormulary says that people who tae epilepsy medicines should not tae (t 8ohn&s
'ort. !his is #ecause it can affect the way epilepsy medicines wor. !his could mean you have
more sei2ures than usual.
Anti&depressant medicines for depression
Anti-depressant medicines can #e useful for some people who find it difficult to deal with the
normal tass of day-to-day life. !hey wor #y increasing the activity and levels of certain
chemicals in the #rain that help to lift a person&s mood.
Anti-depressants do not change your life directly #ut can help you overcome depression. !hey
may give you more energy to tacle the difficulties you are facing and mae it easier to tae an
active approach to solving any pro#lems you face.
!he choice of anti-depressant medicine will depend on a num#er of things including6
what epilepsy medicines you are taking and any possible interactions
the e)ect they may have on your sei(ures0
(ome anti-depressants have #een lined to an increase in sei2ure fre$uency. !his has led to an
under treatment of depression in people with epilepsy. However, there is research to suggest that
most anti-depressant medicines are safe for people with epilepsy, when used at the right doses.
!hese types of anti-depressants are nown as serotonin re-uptae inhi#itors 3((7Is4 and
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptae inhi#itors 3(*7Is4. 7esearch also suggests that these types
of anti-depressant medicines wor well in people with epilepsy, regardless of how often they
have sei2ures.
,sychological treatments and anti-depressant medicines can wor well together, #ut
psychological treatments alone can also wor well for some people. !his is particularly true for
people with epilepsy who feel that they are already taing enough medicines, and don&t want to
tae any more.
%anaging epilepsy and depression
0ou might thin that it&s normal to feel depressed #ecause you have epilepsy.
.any studies show that if you have epilepsy you are more liely to develop depression than
someone who doesn&t have epilepsy. However it doesn&t mean that it&s your fault that you are
depressed or that you 1ust have to live with it.
It&s important to get good treatment and care for your epilepsy. )ut it is also important that we all
loo after our emotional health and well#eing too.
-ur #odies and mind are connected. )eing diagnosed and living with epilepsy might affect how
we feel emotionally. How we feel emotionally can affect the way we cope with epilepsy as well as
how we cope with our day-to-day lives.
!here are things that you can do. Here are some things that might help.
Seek help
'e all need help sometimes. If the negative feelings you are having don&t go away, or they are
affecting your everyday life, you might need some support. !his could #e from a family mem#er,
a friend, your family doctor, epilepsy specialist or epilepsy nurse.
If you are feeling that life is too much, it is important to get help straight away.
"ither see your family doctor or call *H( Direct on 9:;< ;=;>. 3!his service is gradually #eing
replaced #y *H( ??? service.4
0ou can also contact the (amaritans. !hey offer @; hour confidential emotional support for
people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to
suicide.
The Samaritans
!el6 9:;<> A9 A9 A9
"mail6 jo@samaritans.org
'e#site6 samaritans.org.u
(earn about your condition
!ry to learn a#out your epilepsy. 0ou could spea to your family doctor, epilepsy specialist or
epilepsy nurse a#out any $uestions you have. 0ou could also contact "pilepsy Action&s
freephone helpline num#er and spea to an Advice and Information -fficer.
0ou may want to overcome any feelings of isolation #y going out and taling to other people
a#out your epilepsy and your feelings. "pilepsy Action has an extensive networ of #ranches,
coffee and chat groups and volunteers throughout the UK. !hey provide local support to people
with epilepsy, their family and friends and carers.
+or more information a#out any of these services, contact the "pilepsy Helpline or
visit epilepsy.org.uk/about/local-services
0ou may #e interested in our online community, forum4e. !his is for people with epilepsy and
carers of people with epilepsy. Hopefully, you will #e a#le to tal to others in a similar situation.
#e acti!ely in!ol!ed in your treatment and care
!he *ational Health (ervice 3*H(4 run self-management programmes. !hey aim to help
increase your confidence, improve your $uality of life and show you how to manage your
condition #etter.
+or more information a#out self-management programmes visit the *H( choices
we#site6 nhs.uk
%anage your condition as effecti!ely as possible
7esearch shows that people with long-term conditions who tae more control of their health have
a much #etter $uality of life.
!ry to focus on the things you can control.
ake your epilepsy medicines on time0
+ave a good sleep routine0
ake regular e"ercise0
1at and drink sensibly0
ake time out regularly to rela" or do something you enjoy0
"pilepsy action has more information a#out epilepsy and stress
Depression is a constellation or set of symptoms including6
5hanges in sleep, mood and appetite
Decreased interests
(uicidal thining
,oor concentrationBattention
5hange in thoughts, movement and speed
,ains in various parts of the #ody
- (ee more at6 http6BBepilepsy.med.nyu.eduBliving-with-epilepsyBrelated-disordersBdepression-and-
epilepsyCsthash.p!Dl8Dt.*p0,#91a.dpuf
Depression causes feelings of sadness, helplessness, hopelessness, and guilt, and maes the person
una#le to experience happiness. -ther pro#lems include difficulty sleeping 3insomnia or sleeping
excessively4, decreased sexual desire, and appetite distur#ances 3loss of appetite or overeating4. All
people feel sad at some time in their life and the depth of sadness varies. !he line #etween sadness
and depression is not precise #ut at some point, when sadness is prolonged and impairs a person&s
a#ility to en1oy life and to wor, there is a pro#lem.
Is depression a common disorder for those with epilepsyE
Depression is a common experience for many people. However, it is a much more common
occurrence in those living with epilepsy. (tudies reveal that <9F of those with epilepsy that is not
controlled with medication suffer from depression as well.
Is the rate of suicide increased in those with epilepsy)
he most serious complication of depression is suicide. *ust as the rate of depression
is increased in people with epilepsy+ there is also an increased rate of suicide. ,atients+
family members+ and doctors often fail to recognize the presence or se!erity of
depression. If there is any -uestion+ seek help. Anyone who e'presses thoughts about
hurting himself or herself should be taken e'tremely seriously. If someone who is
depressed discusses a specific plan to hurt himself or herself or gi!es away treasured
items+ a psychiatrist should be consulted immediately and the person should be taken
to an emergency room.

Depression and Persons with Epilepsy
In persons with epilepsy, depression can result from6
a psychological reaction to having the disorder or #eing treated differently #ecause of it
medication effects
the cause of the epilepsy, such as head in1ury or stroe
the epilepsy itself
!he relative importance of each of these factors is controversial, and often several factors contri#ute.
In some cases, the depression is related to loss of a 1o# or a loved one, or to a flurry of sei2ures.
Depression related to the psychological effects of living with epilepsy and other pro#lems of life can
#e effectively treated in most cases #y psychotherapy and counseling. Discussion of trou#lesome
feelings with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor can #e extremely helpful.
Antiepileptic drugs, especially #ar#iturates 3pheno#ar#ital and primidone4, can cause depression. !his
ind of depression is often dose-relatedG that is, the higher the dose, the greater the ris of
depression. !aing one or more other antiepileptic drugs in com#ination with a #ar#iturate can also
increase the ris. It is rare that only a #ar#iturate can control epilepsy, however, so if a person who is
taing a #ar#iturate is feeling depressed, he or she should as the doctor a#out a medication change.
-ther antiepileptic drugs, especially #en2odia2epines, levetiracetam, topiramate and viga#atrin, can
also occasionally contri#ute to depression.
In1ury to the #rain, whether from a stroe, oxygen deprivation, head in1ury, or infection, can cause
depression. !his is not surprising #ecause the #rain controls our emotions and moods. !he role that
epilepsy itself plays in directly causing depression remains controversial. As more information
accumulates, however, it appears that epilepsy does contri#ute to the pro#lem in some cases. In
some patients, depression occurs hours or days #efore or after a sei2ure. .ore fre$uently, depression
occurs #etween sei2ures 3in the interictal period4.
)ac to !op
Treatment of Depression
'hen possi#le, the cause or causes of depression should #e treated. (erious depression re$uires
antidepressant medication. (ome psychiatrists and neurologists fear that antidepressants can
aggravate the sei2ure disorder. (ome evidence supports this fear, #ut most people with epilepsy who
are treated with antidepressant medications do not experience more fre$uent sei2ures. *ewer
antidepressants such as the selective serotonin reuptae inhi#itors 3((7Is4 appear safe for almost all
epilepsy patients. !hese drugs include6
fluoxetine 3,ro2ac4
paroxetine 3,axil4
sertraline 3Holoft4
citalopram 35elexa4
escitalopram 3/exapro4
-ther new antidepressant drugs that are safe and well tolerated #y most patients with epilepsy
include nefa2adone 3(er2one4, a serotonin antagonist and reuptae inhi#itor as well as venlafaxine
3"ffexor4 and duloxetine 35ym#alta4, #oth are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptae inhi#itors. All of
these drugs that increase serotonin activity can also help treat o#sessive-compulsive and anxiety
disorders.
)uproprion 3'ell#utrin4, an antidepressant 3especially in doses over I99 mg per day4, should #e
avoided in people with epilepsy, as it can lower the sei2ure threshold and #e associated with
increased sei2ures.
)esides counseling and medications, very severe depression may #e treated with electroconvulsive
shoc therapy. ,atients with epilepsy can safely undergo this procedure.
Depresi mempengaruhi hampir satu dari enam orang di Inggris. (iapapun dapat mengalami
depresi. *amun, #anya penelitian menun1uan #ahwa le#ih umum 1ia memilii ondisi
esehatan 1anga pan1ang seperti epilepsi. Ada 1uga #e#erapa penelitian yang menun1uan
#ahwa depresi meningatan risio mengem#angan epilepsi Depresi 1uga dapat
menye#a#an orang men1adi le#ih cemas, memilii Jsum#u pendeJ atau untu
mengem#angan masalah dengan memori merea. ,erasaan #iasanya #erlangsung
selama #e#erapa minggu, atau merea terus datang em#ali. Depresi dapat muncul dengan
cara yang #er#eda. Karena ge1ala depresi dapat muncul men1adi fisi daripada emosional,
memilii minimal lima atau enam dari ge1ala di #awah ini.
K .erasa #ahagia se#agian #esar watu 3tapi mungin merasa sediit le#ih #ai di malam
hari4
K Kehilangan minat dalam hidup dan tida #isa menimati apa-apa
K .enemuan le#ih sulit untu mem#uat eputusan
K !ida #isa mengatasi hal-hal yang Anda gunaan untu
K .erasa lelah
K .erasa resah dan gelisah
K Kehilangan nafsu maan dan #erat #adan 3#e#erapa orang merasa merea melauan
yang se#alinya dan #erat #adan4
K .engam#il lama untu mendapatan tidur, dan emudian #angun le#ih awal dari #iasanya
K Kehilangan minat pada ses
K Hilangnya rasa percaya diri
K .erasa tida #erguna, tida memadai dan putus asa
K .enghindari orang lain
K .erasa tersinggung
K .erasa le#ih #uru pada watu tertentu setiap hari, #iasanya di pagi hari
K )erpiir #unuh diri
Depresi dapat ringan, sedang atau #erat. !ida semua periode depresi pergi untu watu
yang lama. !api tanpa #antuan, dapat #erlangsung selama #er#ulan-#ulan atau #ahan
#ertahun-tahun.
,enyebab depresi
Kadang-adang tampanya ada alasan yang 1elas untu mengem#angan depresi. )eriut
adalah #e#erapa contoh alasan mengapa #e#erapa orang men1adi depresi.
K Duacita
K ,erceraian
K (e#uah peristiwa traumatis
K Kehilangan peer1aan
K 7iwayat eluarga depresi
K )e#erapa ondisi fisi
K Diet
K -#at (treet dan alohol
K Ke1ang
K "fe samping dari o#at-o#atan epilepsi
Epilepsi dan depresi
(atu dari setiap tiga orang dengan epilepsi aan mengalami #e#erapa #entu depresi
selama hidup merea. Hu#ungan antara epilepsi dan depresi yang rumit. .emilii depresi
dapat men1adi risio untu mengem#angan epilepsi. )anya penelitian menun1uan
#ahwa depresi le#ih sering ter1adi pada orang dengan epilepsi di#andingan orang yang
tida memilii epilepsi. Hidup dengan epilepsi dapat mempengaruhi orang dengan cara yang
#er#eda. (etiap orang #ereasi #er#eda. Anda mungin merasa sulit untu menerima
diagnosis epilepsi. Dan mungin #utuh watu untu menyesuaian diri dengan peru#ahan
dalam hidup Anda. )ila Anda memilii epilepsi, mungin ada #e#erapa hal yang dapat
#erontri#usi terhadap Anda men1adi tertean. )eriut adalah #e#erapa contoh.
K .elan1utan untu memilii e1ang
K .en1adi taut mengalami e1ang
K .emilii efe samping dari o#at-o#atan epilepsi
K .emilii masalah di tempat er1a
K .emilii masalah sosial atau hu#ungan atau eluarga
.e/ang dan depresi
)agi se#agian orang, depresi terait dengan e1ang. Hal ini dapat dialami se#elum, selama,
atau setelah e1ang. Depresi dapat ter1adi #e#erapa 1am se#elum e1ang. )e#erapa orang
dengan epilepsi 1uga mengalami ti#a-ti#a mem#urunya suasana hati merea se#agai
#agian pertama dari e1ang merea 3selama aura merea4. Hal ini le#ih sering ter1adi pada
orang dengan epilepsi lo#us temporal. Ketia depresi ter1adi setelah e1ang, mungin tida
mulai selama #e#erapa 1am. Ini #isa tertunda hingga tu1uh hari setelah itu. -rang-orang
yang e1ang tida diendalian oleh o#at-o#atan epilepsi memilii risio le#ih tinggi
mengalami depresi. )uti menun1uan #ahwa depresi 1uga #isa mem#uat epilepsi parah.
.en1adi depresi dapat menye#a#an pola tidur Anda aan terganggu. Atau mungin
menye#a#an Anda ehilangan dosis o#at epilepsi Anda. Kedua hal ini dapat men1adi
pemicu untu e1ang #agi se#agian orang. -#at-o#atan epilepsi dan depresi Ke#anyaan
orang dengan epilepsi tida mengalami masalah dengan suasana hati atau emosi se#agai
efe samping dari minum o#at epilepsi merea. *amun, #agi se#agian orang, o#at-o#atan
epilepsi merea dapat mempengaruhi suasana hati merea, dan menye#a#an depresi
se#agai efe samping. -rang-orang yang memilii riwayat pri#adi atau eluarga depresi
le#ih #erisio ini.
Ini adalah o#at-o#atan epilepsi diataan mem#awa risio tertinggi penye#a# depresi.
K viga#atrin
K +eno#ar#ital 3feno#ar#ital4
K /evetiracetam
K 2onisamide
K !opiramate
K !iaga#in
K 5lona2epam
"pisode depresi mungin #erhu#ungan dengan dosis dengan #e#erapa o#at epilepsi tetapi
tida yang lain. Ini #erarti #ahwa semain tinggi dosis, semain #esar emunginan untu
mengalami depresi. -rang-orang yang mengam#il le#ih dari satu 1enis o#at epilepsi
mungin memilii peningatan risio mengalami depresi.
,engobatan untuk depresi
)anya orang dengan depresi ringan aan sem#uh tanpa pengo#atan. *amun, #e#erapa
orang mem#utuhan pengo#atan untu depresi merea. )e#erapa orang aan memerluan
om#inasi perawatan, termasu perawatan psiologis atau o#at anti-depresan.
,erawatan psiologis adalah istilah umum. Hal ini digunaan untu menggam#aran etia
#ertemu dengan seseorang yang terlatih untu #er#icara tentang perasaan. Ini mem#antu
untu melihat piiran dan perasaan dan #agaimana ini mempengaruhi ehidupan dan
ese1ahteraan. !erapi perilau ognitif 35)!4 Ini adalah 1enis perawatan psiologis. !elah
ter#uti untu mem#antu mengo#ati depresi pada orang dengan dan tanpa epilepsi.
!u1uan dari 5)! adalah untu mem#antu melihat dan mengu#ah piiran dan perasaan
negatif. Ini mem#antu Anda untu mengatasi tantangan hidup yang le#ih #ai. 5)! tida
dapat menghapus masalah Anda, tetapi dapat mem#antu Anda mengelola merea dengan
cara yang le#ih positif. 5)! telah ter#uti sangat mem#antu di menanggulangi pro#lema
seperti depresi. Hal ini #iasanya dilauan dengan terapis atas dasar satu-e-satu, tetapi
1uga dapat #erupa6
0bat&obatan anti&depresan untuk depresi
-#at-o#atan anti-depresan dapat #erguna #agi se#agian orang yang merasa sulit untu
menangani tugas-tugas normal dari ehidupan sehari-hari. .erea #eer1a dengan
meningatan ativitas dan tingat #ahan imia tertentu di ota yang mem#antu untu
mengangat suasana hati seseorang.
Anti-depresan tida mengu#ah hidup Anda secara langsung, tetapi dapat mem#antu Anda
mengatasi depresi. .erea mungin mem#eri Anda le#ih #anya energi untu mengatasi
esulitan yang Anda hadapi dan mem#uatnya le#ih mudah untu mengam#il pendeatan
atif untu memecahan setiap masalah yang Anda hadapi.
,ilihan o#at anti-depresan aan tergantung pada #e#erapa hal termasu6
K apa o#at epilepsi yang digunaan dan setiap interasi yang mungin
K efe merea mungin pada e1ang Anda.
)e#erapa anti-depresi telah diaitan dengan peningatan freuensi e1ang. Hal ini telah
menye#a#an pengo#atan di #awah depresi pada penderita epilepsi. *amun, ada penelitian
yang menun1uan #ahwa se#agian #esar o#at anti-depresan yang aman #agi penderita
epilepsi, #ila digunaan dengan dosis yang tepat. 8enis antidepresan yang dienal se#agai
inhi#itor serotonin re-uptae 3((7I4 dan serotonin reuptae inhi#itor-norepinefrin 3(*7Is4.
,enelitian 1uga menun1uan #ahwa 1enis o#at anti-depresan #eer1a dengan #ai pada
orang dengan epilepsi, terlepas dari se#erapa sering merea mengalami e1ang.
,erawatan psiologis dan o#at-o#atan anti-depresan dapat #eer1a sama dengan #ai,
tetapi perawatan psiologis sa1a 1uga dapat #eer1a dengan #ai untu #e#erapa orang. Hal
ini terutama #erlau untu orang-orang dengan epilepsi yang merasa #ahwa merea sudah
mengam#il cuup o#at-o#atan, dan tida ingin mengam#il lagi.
1epresi adalah konstelasi atau set ge/ala termasuk:
K ,eru#ahan dalam tidur, suasana hati dan nafsu maan
K Kepentingan ,enurunan
K pemiiran #unuh diri
K Kurang onsentrasi B perhatian
K ,eru#ahan piiran, geraan dan ecepatan
K 7asa sait di #er#agai #agian tu#uh
1epresi dan ,enyandang Epilepsi
,ada orang dengan epilepsi, depresi dapat hasil dari6 reasi psiologis memilii gangguan
atau diperlauan #er#eda arena itu "fe o#atpenye#a# epilepsi, seperti cedera epala
atau stroeK itu sendiri epilepsi Dalam #e#erapa asus, depresi #erhu#ungan dengan
ehilangan peer1aan atau orang yang dicintai, atau untu se#uah e#ingungan e1ang.
Depresi #erhu#ungan dengan efe psiologis hidup dengan epilepsi dan masalah ehidupan
lainnya dapat dio#ati secara efetif pada e#anyaan asus dengan psioterapi dan
onseling. -#at antiepilepsi, terutama #ar#iturat 3feno#ar#ital dan primidone4, dapat
menye#a#an depresi. 8enis depresi sering #erhu#ungan dengan dosisG yaitu, semain
tinggi dosis, semain #esar risio depresi. .engam#il satu atau le#ih o#at antiepilepsi
lainnya dalam om#inasi dengan #ar#iturat 1uga dapat meningatan risio. (angat 1arang
#ahwa hanya #ar#iturat dapat mengontrol epilepsi, #agaimanapun, 1adi 1ia orang yang
mengam#il #ar#iturat adalah perasaan tertean, ia harus #ertanya epada doter tentang
peru#ahan pengo#atan. -#at lain antiepilepsi, terutama #en2odia2epin, levetiracetam,
topiramate dan viga#atrin, 1uga #isa seseali #erontri#usi untu depresi. 5edera ota, #ai
dari stroe, eurangan osigen, cedera epala, atau infesi, dapat menye#a#an depresi.
Hal ini tida mengheranan arena ota mengontrol emosi dan suasana hati ita. ,eran
#ahwa epilepsi itu sendiri memainan secara langsung menye#a#an depresi masih
ontroversial. ,ada #e#erapa pasien, depresi ter1adi 1am atau hari se#elum atau setelah
e1ang. /e#ih sering, depresi ter1adi antara e1ang 3pada periode interital4.
Depresi yang serius mem#utuhan o#at antidepresan. )e#erapa psiiater dan ahli saraf
taut #ahwa antidepresan dapat memper#uru gangguan e1ang. )e#erapa #uti
menduung etautan ini, tetapi e#anyaan orang dengan epilepsi yang dio#ati dengan
o#at antidepresan tida mengalami le#ih sering e1ang. Antidepresan yang le#ih #aru seperti
serotonin reuptae inhi#itor 3((7I4 muncul aman untu hampir semua pasien epilepsi.
-#at ini termasu6
K fluoxetine 3,ro2ac4
K paroxetine 3,axil4
K sertraline 3Holoft4
K citalopram 35elexa4
K escitalopram 3/exapro4
-#at antidepresan #aru lainnya yang aman dan ditoleransi dengan #ai oleh se#agian #esar
pasien dengan epilepsi meliputi nefa2adone 3(er2one4, antagonis serotonin reuptae
inhi#itor dan serta venlafaxine 3"ffexor4 dan duloxetine 35ym#alta4, eduanya serotonin dan
norepinefrin reuptae inhi#itor. (emua o#at ini yang meningatan ativitas serotonin 1uga
dapat mem#antu mengo#ati gangguan o#sesif-ompulsif dan ecemasan.
)uproprion 3'ell#utrin4, antidepresan 3terutama dalam dosis le#ih dari I99 mg per hari4,
harus dihindari pada orang dengan epilepsi, arena dapat menurunan am#ang e1ang dan
diaitan dengan peningatan e1ang.