Association Between Psychiatric Comorbidities and Mortality in Epilepsy
Gerard Tao1, Clarissa Auvrez1, Russell Nightscales1
1Departments of Medicine and Neurology (GT, CA, RN, CBM, PP, ZC, AM, PK, TJO), The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne; Department of Neuroscience (RN, SB, CBM, PP, ZC, AM, PK, TJO), The Alfred Hospital, Monash University Central Clinical School, Melbourne; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (LM, SA, DV), Department of Psychiatry, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne; Departments of Medicine and Neurology (SI, POB, MJC, WDS), St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne; and Department of Medicine (Neurology) (SFB), The University of Melbourne (Austin Health), Victoria, Australia.
Psychiatric comorbidities significantly increase all-cause mortality in adults with epilepsy. Early identification and treatment of these conditions are crucial for improving survival in people with epilepsy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Epilepsy affects millions globally, often co-occurring with psychiatric disorders.
- The impact of psychiatric comorbidities on mortality in epilepsy is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between psychiatric comorbidities and all-cause mortality in adults with epilepsy.
- To determine if psychiatric conditions influence survival rates in epilepsy patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 2,709 adults admitted for video-EEG monitoring (VEM) between 1995-2015.
- Inclusion of 1,805 patients with neuropsychiatrist evaluations, excluding brain tumor deaths.
- Mortality data linked to the Australian National Death Index and National Coronial Information System.
Main Results:
- People with epilepsy (PWE) and psychiatric illness had higher mortality (SMR 3.6) than the general population.
- PWE with psychiatric illness showed increased mortality (HR 1.41) compared to PWE without psychiatric illness.
- No single psychiatric disorder independently increased mortality; causes of death were similar across groups.
Conclusions:
- Comorbid psychiatric disorders are linked to increased all-cause mortality in adults with epilepsy.
- Emphasizes the critical need for identifying and managing psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy care.
- Proactive psychiatric care may improve long-term outcomes for people with epilepsy.
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...
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:
Electroconvulsive Therapy
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...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy


