Tik Yee Lau
Although epilepsy is first and foremost a neurological condition, not a mental illness, people who experience epilepsy are more prone to mood disorders as it puts a huge strain on one’s physical and mental health. In addition, children with epilepsy require special care from their family, which in turn, can be a stressor to their family. Medications used to treat epilepsy, such as Depakote, can cause the patients to feel overly sleepy and can negatively affect their normal functioning as well as quality of life. After viewing this post, I hope readers can use what they learned about the struggles of epilepsy patients to offer a helping hand in the future.
Compared to the general population, people with epilepsy have higher rates of depression and anxiety disorders. Living with epilepsy can create many stressors such as adversity at school and work, and/or fear of having a seizure in an inappropriate situation. For instance, a businessman who has to give an important presentation might fear that his seizure would occur in the middle of the presentation. Similarly, a student might be afraid of having a sudden seizure during a test, which could worsen his test anxiety. When we look at the physiological aspect, parts of the brain such as the amygdala and hippocampus that generate seizures are also related to the development of anxiety and depressive disorders. In addition, epilepsy can disrupt neurotransmitter function in the brain, which could lead to depression and anxiety. However, this isn’t a surprise to medical specialists studying epilepsy.
In the medical community, many health professionals are aware of the relationship between epilepsy and mood disorder; many epilepsy patients also suffer mood disorders. Patients with epilepsy are often encouraged to talk to their doctors about their moods during their visits. There are various treatment options for epilepsy patients who are experiencing mood disorders. Psychotherapy and medications for treating mood disorders are the most common treatments available. However, some patients might be worried that taking medications for both epilepsy and mood disorders will be too much for their bodies to handle. Therefore, it’s important for the patients to discuss the treatment plan carefully with his or her physicians. Additionally, telling one’s close family and friends is another great way to seek help for mood problems.
References:
Epilepsy and Mood Disorders, Epilepsy Foundation,2011. Retrieved February 27, 2014 from http://epilepsyfoundation.org/resources/upload/EFA317.pdf.