Affective disorders in patients with epilepsy: primary process or consequence of paroxysmal activity?

Abstract

The high prevalence of primary affective disorders in patients with epilepsy is beyond doubt. However, patients in this group are often identified as suffering from mood disorders that do not fulfil the criteria for primary mood disorders, such as recurrent depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder. The aim of this paper is to analyze the classification and clinical picture of affective disorders in patients with epilepsy and differential diagnostic approaches to identify primary affective disorders and secondary affective disorders in epilepsy. A set of diagnostic signs for the differential assessment of affective disorders in patients with epilepsy is presented. Research of affective pathology in patients with epilepsy and the development of strategies for its successful treatment are still needed.

Keywords

• affective disorders
• mood disorders
• bipolar disorder
• depression
• interictal dysphoric disorder
• epilepsy