Teens With Epilepsy Prone to Depression

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In a recent study of adults with epilepsy, 85 percent said their medicine was effective at controlling their seizures, but almost two-thirds said their medicine's side effects keep them from "living the life they want to live."

According to the Neurology report, it has been known for some time that teens with chronic illnesses are more likely to suffer from depression. However, the association between teens with epilepsy and depression appears to be even stronger.

That's probably true for a number of reasons, suggest the study authors, from the University of Liverpool in England. One reason may be that epilepsy and depression are affected by the same neurotransmitters -- the brain's chemical messengers that help tell the rest of the body what to do.

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But, Plioplys noted that researchers really don't know for sure why there's such an increased risk of depression in teens with epilepsy.

"Depression is a multi-factorial illness. There are biological factors, psychological and social factors that cause depression. We can't state that one factor is most prominent in causing depression," she explained.

One thing is clear, however. The more seizures a person has, the more likely they are to experience depression. About 9 percent of people with epilepsy struggled with depression, according to one study highlighted in the new review. But among those with frequent seizures, the depression rate jumped to 21 percent.

The bottom line, said both Trock and Plioplys, is that parents and medical professionals need to be aware that depression and an increased risk of suicide are common among teens with epilepsy, and they need to be on the lookout for signs of depression.

"These children are vulnerable and at risk," Plioplys said. "Depression can go unnoticed for months and years, and the high risk of suicide is a very dangerous condition."

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