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The influence of folate serum levels on depressive mood and mental processing in patients with epilepsy treated with enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic drugs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

J. Rösche ,
C. Uhlmann ,
R. Weber  and
W. Fröscher
J. Rösche*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Epileptology (Department of Psychiatry I, University of Ulm), Die Weissenau, Ravensburg, Germany
C. Uhlmann
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Epileptology (Department of Psychiatry I, University of Ulm), Die Weissenau, Ravensburg, Germany
R. Weber
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Epileptology (Department of Psychiatry I, University of Ulm), Die Weissenau, Ravensburg, Germany
W. Fröscher
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology and Epileptology (Department of Psychiatry I, University of Ulm), Die Weissenau, Ravensburg, Germany
*
Department of Neurology and Epileptology (Department of Psychiatry I, University of Ulm), Weingartshoferstr. 2, 88214 Ravensburg, Germany. Fax: 0049 75176012610; E-mail: Johannes.Roesche@ZfP-Weissenau.de
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Abstract

Background:

Folate deficiency is common in patients with epilepsy and also occurs in patients with depression or cognitive deficits.

Objective:

This study investigates whether low serum folate levels may contribute to depressive mood and difficulties in mental processing in patients with epilepsy treated with anti-epileptic drugs inducing the cytochrome P450.

Methods:

We analysed the serum folate levels, the score in the Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the results of a bedside test in mental processing in 54 patients with epilepsy.

Results:

There was a significant negative correlation between the serum folate levels and the score in SDS and significant positive correlations between the score in SDS and the time needed to process an interference task or a letter-reading task.

Conclusions:

Low serum folate levels may contribute to depressive mood and therefore to difficulties in mental processing. Further studies utilizing total plasma homocysteine as a sensitive measure of functional folate deficiency and more elaborate tests of mental processing are required to elucidate the impact of folate metabolism on depressive mood and cognitive function in patients with epilepsy.

Keywords

depressionepilepsyfolatemental processing
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , April 2003 , pp. 63 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 Blackwell Munksgaard

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