Primidone is associated with interictal depression in patients with epilepsy

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 413 - 416
• Main Authors: Lopez-Gomez, M., Ramirez-Bermudez, J., Campillo, C., Sosa, A.L., Espinola, M., Ruiz, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2005
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Barbiturates; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demography; Depression; Depression - chemically induced; Depression - epidemiology; Epilepsy; Epilepsy - complications; Epilepsy - drug therapy; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Neuropsychiatry; Personality Inventory; Primidone; Primidone - adverse effects; Primidone - therapeutic use; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Seizure control; Self-Assessment; Sickness Impact Profile; Surveys and Questionnaires; Primidone; Depression; Seizure control; Barbiturates; Neuropsychiatry; Epilepsy
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2005.01.016

Depressive symptoms are common in epilepsy. To determine associations between depression and demographic, clinical, and pharmacological factors among epileptic patients, we conducted a cross-sectional survey. We evaluated 241 epileptic outpatients at a neurological center in a 6-month period. Depressive syndrome was diagnosed when both the Montgomery–Asberg Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were rated above the standard cutoff points. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the differences between depressed and nondepressed patients with respect to demographic, clinical, and pharmacological features. Depressive syndrome was diagnosed in 42.7% of patients ( n = 103). Factors associated in the bivariate analysis were: cryptogenic etiology, posttraumatic epilepsy, use of primidone, and inadequate seizure control. After logistic regression, inadequate seizure control (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.40–6.77, P = 0.005) and use of primidone (OR 4.08, 95% CI 2.09–7.98; P < 0.001) remained significantly associated. Depression was common and associated with inadequate seizure control and use of primidone.