The effect on antidepressants in patients with epilepsy and depression
A randomized control trial (RCT) and prospective non-randomized studies of interventions (NRSIs) conducted by Melissa J Maguire, Anthony G Marson and Sarah J Nevitt were done in children and adults to determine the efficiency and safety of antidepressants in patients who suffer from epilepsy and struggle with seizures. Those included in the trial were either treated with the antidepressant, placebo, comparative antidepressant, psychotherapy, or no treatment for depressive symptoms. The outcome was scored on the changes in their depression state and the change in seizure frequency to determine the effectiveness of the drug. Other outcomes in the study were the amount of those who withdrew from the study, due to personal reasons or a change in their health. Those who participated in the trial showed no response to the antidepressants and displayed a lack of evidence supporting the fact that the drug may help reduce seizures and depression symptoms in epileptic patients.
Result:
The research concludes that antidepressants do not have any more of an effect on depression symptoms than trials using other treatments, placebos, and no treatment in epileptic patients. The data observed a 43%-82% improvement in depressive behavior in the RCT (Randomized controlled trial) and a 24%-97% improvement in the NRSI (Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions). Other studies resulted in inconclusive results due to the study showing signs of a complete recovery. Further data was observed in risk of seizures, quality of life, and cognitive functioning which all showed no observable results across studies with no treatment, placebos, antidepressants, and other treatment. Overall, the data was insufficient to fully prove the effect of antidepressants in those with epilepsy and what aid it has on seizures. Looking at the data left, there is evidence that proves that antidepressants do not lower symptoms of depression more than the other studies.
Advantage:
Although the evidence displayed had results supporting that antidepressants have almost no effect on those with depression and epilepsy, this point could help further research on other medications that could further be proven to have positive effects on those suffering from epilepsy and depression. Other advantages could be to help cancel out certain areas of research done on antidepressants. Narrowing down the list of disorders antidepressants have a chance at treating can make finding another disease that can be treated with this mediation an easier task. This also works the same for those who now know that epilepsy and those dealing with side effects like seizures have no reactions or changes from the medication, to eliminate that drug as an option and move on to the next drug that would demonstrate promising results
Disadvantage:
A major disadvantage in the study is the evidence taken. The quality of evidence was rated as low-moderate by the researchers due to difficulty in analyzing the effects of behavior. The majority of the studies groups were believed to have biases that would affect the end results. Furthermore, there is no concrete way to truly observe how each individual would change with the antidepressants in addition to no methods to observe a change in the quality of life. As a reflection on the disadvantages, further research should be done with larger groups, more trials, and different antidepressants to observe the wide spectrum of the effect of antidepressants in epilepsy studies.
Why is this important?
The results of the research are significant because it helps explore the unknown areas of epilepsy, helping narrow down the different possible treatments and causes.
Citation:
Melissa J Maguire, Anthony G Marson, Sarah J Nevitt. (16 April 2021). Antidepressants for people with epilepsy and depression. Retrieved from October 14, 2021, from https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010682.pub3/abstract
