Association between epilepsy and risk of depression: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Recent studies provided inconsistent evidence for the association between epilepsy and risk of depression.

Methods: We searched for articles published in the databases (Web of Science, Google Scholar and PubMed) and before December 2021. We used STATA 12.0 software to compute odds ratios (ORs)/relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: The meta-analysis indicated that epilepsy was associated with an increased risk of depression with a random effects model (OR/RR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.77-2.37, I² = 37.7%, p = 0.036). Subgroup studies indicated that epilepsy was associated with an increased risk of depression in both case-control and cohort studies (case-control studies: OR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.91-2.82; cohort studies: RR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.53-1.92). Subgroup studies indicated that epilepsy was associated with an increased risk of depression in Asian, African and Caucasian populations (Asian: OR/RR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.48-3.95; African: OR/RR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.88-3.28; Caucasian: OR/RR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.60-2.15). Subgroup studies showed that epilepsy was associated with an increased risk of depression among adolescents and adults (adolescents: OR/RR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.86-3.46; adults: OR/RR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.79-2.75).

Conclusions: Epilepsy is at increased risk of depression comorbidity.

Keywords: Depression; Epilepsy; Meta-analysis.