Assessment and Management of Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Child Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Anxiety and depression are frequent in pediatric epilepsy patients.
• These comorbidities significantly burden patients and families, complicating epilepsy management.
• Current recognition of affective disorders in pediatric epilepsy is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a narrative review of anxiety and depression in pediatric epilepsy.
• To discuss the etiology, phenomenology, assessment, and management of these conditions.
• To highlight the need for clinicians to consider medication's role.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of existing literature.
• Synthesis of information on anxiety and depression in pediatric epilepsy.
• Focus on etiology, phenomenology, assessment, and management.

Main Results:

• Affective comorbidities are prevalent in pediatric epilepsy.
• Antiepileptic medications may play a role in the development of these comorbidities.
• Limited current recognition of these issues in clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of pediatric epilepsy requires addressing co-occurring anxiety and depression.
• Clinicians must be vigilant in recognizing and assessing affective comorbidities.
• The potential contribution of antiepileptic drugs to these conditions warrants careful consideration.