Mood disorder in epilepsy: A case report

Abstract

Introduction

A lot of studies have described that up to 50% of patients with epilepsy develop psychiatric disorders: depression, anxiety and psychotic symptoms. We can classify these symptoms according to how they relate in time to seizure occurrence, i.e. pre-ictal/prodromal, ictal, post-ictal or inter-ictal. In this case, we have a 76 years old woman that develops a maniac-episode previously that she has an episode.

Objectives

Make a review about the prevalence, risk factors of psychiatric problem in epilepsy (biological, psychosocial and iatrogenic) and report of clinical case.

Methods

Review the bi-directional associations between epilepsy and bipolar disorder (epidemiological links, evidence for shared etiology, and the impact of these disorders) with a integrated clinical approach.

Results

Theoretically, epilepsy and bipolar disorder share an important number of clinical and neurobiological features. Classic neuropsychiatric literature focused on major depression with data on bipolar disorder remains limited. However, actually there are many evidences that mood instability, mixed irritability even mania is not uncommon in patients with epilepsy.

Conclusions

It is important develop more sensitive and specific screening instruments to identify mood disorder in epilepsy's patients. Future research becomes decisive for a better understanding of the similarities between epilepsy and BD, and the treatment of both.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.