Subtypes of interictal depressive disorders according to ICD-10 in patients with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the frequency of interictal depressive symptoms and different subtypes of depressive disorders according to 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) criteria in patients with epilepsy and its association with the type of epilepsy.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

289 outpatients with epilepsy (169 females, 120 males) aged 18-82 years completed Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Subjects who scored >11 in BDI were further evaluated by the psychiatrist according to the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria.

RESULTS

41.9% (121) of the 289 participants scored >11 in BDI. 104 (85.9%) patients who scored >11 in BDI had comorbid mental disorders according to ICD-10 criteria. The most common were organic mood disorders (F06.3 - 31.4%), depressive episode (F32 - 22.3%) and dysthymia (F34.1 - 9.1%) There were no differences in the prevalence of depression and subtypes of depression in patients with certain epilepsy types. Depression was diagnosed before entering the study in only one third of patients with final diagnosis of depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm the prevailing view that interictal depression is common in epilepsy patients. Depression remains underrecognized and undertreated in patients with epilepsy.