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Epilepsy and Depression
People who have epilepsy and suffer epileptic seizures are more prone to depression than others who have other chronic illnesses such as diabetes. It has been found that around 29 percent of people who suffer from epilepsy also have some sort of depressive disorder.
Depression in people with epilepsy is often a reaction to the condition itself. Epilepsy is a life altering condition that can be hard to deal with. Many things change for someone who is diagnosed with epilepsy. Things that they were used to doing, such as driving a car are no longer an option for them.
The seizures themselves can cause depression, not only from the standpoint of an
altering of the brains chemistry, but also because most people with epilepsy do not not know when the next seizure will occur. The fear of a seizure can lead epileptics to stay home and become reclusive so as not to have a seizure in public. This fear of a seizure can lead to anxiety and panic attacks, which in turn leads to more depression.
There is also the problem of how to counteract the side affects some of the
medications used to fight epilepsy. Many times a prescription for a barbiturate is given to help control the seizures. Barbiturates themselves are known to produce symptoms of depression.
Epileptics who suffer from depression also need to be careful when it comes to
anti-depressant drugs. Many times the anti-depressants can cause epileptic seizures but at the same time if the depression is severe enough that risk may be worth taking because the most serious complication of depression is suicide.
Suicide is a very real problem for those who suffer from epilepsy. In fact the suicide rate for epileptics is five times higher than the average. Since a good percentage of epileptics also suffer from depression it makes identifying and treating the depression that much more critical. Suicide becomes a very real option to epileptics when the seizures and feelings of loss of control overwhelm their ability to function as normal people.
Treating people with epilepsy and depression is a balancing act. It is very important
that epileptics work with their doctors and therapists to find the best combination of medications and counseling that will help their symptoms. Unfortunately studies have shown that about 50 percent of the people who suffer from epilepsy and are
depressed are never treated for their depression. |
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