Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid GABA into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
Published on: May 16, 2019
[Depression and epilepsy : Two clinical pictures with common causes?]
M Borgmann1,2, M Holtkamp3,4, M Adli1,5
1Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Forschungsbereich Experimentelle und Molekulare Psychiatrie, Campus Mitte, Experimentalstandort Dahlem, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Garystr. 5, 14195, Berlin, Deutschland.
Background:
Epilepsy and depressive disorders show a high rate of comorbidity. Thus, neurobiological similarities and a bidirectional relationship in terms of pathogenesis have been suggested.
Objectives:
The aim of this article is to present the common neurobiological features of both disorders, to characterize the bidirectional relationship and to provide an overview of therapeutic consequences.
Material And Methods:
A review of the current literature and evaluation of studies on the topics of depression and epilepsy are presented.
Results:
Epilepsy and depression share common neurobiological features. In epileptic patients depression should be diagnosed early and reliably as the successful treatment has a great influence on the prognosis, quality of life and suicide risk in these individuals. In therapeutic doses, antidepressive medication with noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSA) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) imparts no clinically relevant epileptogenic potential; however, it increases the quality of life and could have anticonvulsant effects in patients with epilepsy. Clomipramine, bupropion and maprotiline, however, should not be administered to patients with epilepsy as they are known to lower the seizure threshold.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Depression: Overview
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...

