Do depression symptoms predict seizure frequency - or vice versa?

Objective: The aim of this study was to test a theoretical explanatory model of the relationship between depression symptom scores and seizure frequency in people with epilepsy. Methods: A community-based sample of adults with active epilepsy provided information on depression symptom scores and seizure frequency at two time points, 1 year apart. Results: One thousand two hundred ten patients completed the initial questionnaire, and 976 of these individuals (80.7%) completed the final questionnaire. Depression scores and seizure frequency were significant predictors of each other, both within (ß=.07, P<.05 and ß=.09, P<.05) and across time (ß=.03, P<.01 and ß=.07, P<.05). Conclusion: The relationship between depression symptom scores and seizure frequency in those with epilepsy is bidirectional. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.