Citation

Machado RA, Espinosa AG, Melendrez D, González YR, García VF, Rodríguez YQ. Seizure 2011; 20(4): 280-284.

Affiliation

National Neurology Institute, "29 street e/t D and E, Vedado, Plaza, Havana City, Cuba.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.seizure.2010.12.010

PMID

21269844

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether antiepileptic drugs constitute in themselves an independent risk factor for suicidality in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: One hundred and thirty one patients with epilepsy were recruited and followed-up during 5 years. A detailed medical history, neurological examination, EEGs, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, executive function, and MRI were assessed. Systematically collected data were used to assess suicidality. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to examine predictive associations between clinical variables, psychiatric disorders, antiepileptic drugs and suicidality. RESULTS: We identified two AEDs related with suicide attempts (PHB and LTG) and four with suicidal risk: PHB, PRM, PHT and LTG, but the increased of risk diminished or disappeared when psychiatric comorbidity and other well established risk factors for suicidality were analyzed. We found a significant proportion of patients with depressive episodes associated with Topiramate, Phenitoin, Phenobarbital and Lamotrigine. CONCLUSION: Antiepileptic drugs probably do not have an impact on suicidality.

Language: en