It is the cache of ${baseHref}. It is a snapshot of the page. The current page could have changed in the meantime.
Tip: To quickly find your search term on this page, press Ctrl+F or ⌘-F (Mac) and use the find bar.

Suicidal behavior and antiepileptic drugs in epilepsy: analysis of the
skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

14804

Suicidal behavior and antiepileptic drugs in epilepsy: analysis of the emerging evidence



Review

(5445) Total Article Views


Authors: Mula M, Hesdorffer DC

Published Date June 2011 Volume 2011:3 Pages 15 - 20
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/DHPS.S13070

Marco Mula1, Dale C Hesdorffer2
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University and Division of Neurology, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy; 2Gertrude H Sergievsky Center and Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

Abstract: Two years after the warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration on an increased risk of suicide for people taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), a number of pharmacoepidemiologic studies have been published but the scientific community is far from definitive answers. The present paper is aimed at reviewing available evidence on the association between AEDs and suicidal behavior, discussing major variables involved such as the relationship between epilepsy, depression, and suicide and the psychotropic potential of AEDs. All studies published so far show a lack of concordance and are constrained by various methodological limitations. What seems to be established is that mood disorders represent a frequent comorbidity in epilepsy and suicide is a serious complication more frequently encountered in epilepsy rather than in the general population. Moreover, a subgroup of patients appears to be at risk of developing treatment-emergent psychiatric adverse effects of AEDs independently of the specific mechanism of action of the drug. The prior history of suicide attempt, especially preceding the onset of the epilepsy, may represent a key element explaining why what is observed is independent of the specific mechanism of the drug. In general terms, risks associated with stopping, or not even starting, AEDs in epilepsy might well be in excess of the risk of suicide in epilepsy, as deaths due to accident and epilepsy itself may predominate. Clinicians need to pay attention not only to seizure patterns when choosing the appropriate AED but also to a number of different parameters (eg, age, gender, working needs, medical comorbidities, history of psychiatric disorders, and suicidality before epilepsy onset) and not the least the mental state of the patient. Missing severe complications such as suicidal behavior or delaying its treatment may worsen the prognosis of epilepsy.

Keywords: antiepileptic drugs, suicide, depression, epilepsy, FDA


Post to:
Cannotea Citeulike Del.icio.us Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

 

Other articles by Dr Marco Mula


Readers of this article also read:
  • Testimonials

    "You do a tremendous job!!" Ruben Restrepo, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio.