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Each year, depression affects one in five Americans overall. Add in a chronic health condition such as epilepsy, and the risk of depression rises. In fact, almost half of all people with epilepsy will suffer from depression at some point in their life.

Understanding depression

The possibility of depression should be considered if you suffer negative feelings that last for two weeks or longer.

Common symptoms include:

Feeling sad or hopeless
Guilt, anxiety or irritability
A lack of motivation
Feeling tired
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual
A loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
Wanting to hurt yourself or thinking about suicide

Depression often runs in families, or it may be triggered by a particular experience, such as a major life change, loss, financial problems — or an illness like epilepsy.

Why epilepsy may increase your risk of depression

There are a variety of reasons that epilepsy can increase the risk of depression:

You may have constant anxiety about seizures
The area of your brain that triggers a seizure may be the same part of the brain that alters mood
It may be a side effect of your anti-seizure medication
You may worry about the social stigma of epilepsy
Your seizures may result in loss of independence, or you might have to give up activities you love

Whatever leads to your depression, the most important things to know are that it’s not your fault and there are things we can do to improve your mental health.

We can change or adjust your epilepsy medication.
Our mental health experts can provide counseling or help you learn coping and behavior-modification skills.
If necessary, we can also prescribe anti-depression medication and monitor any interaction with your epilepsy treatment.

Depression is treatable. Don’t wait to ask for help. Learn more about mental health resources at Ohio State.

Learn more about epilepsy

Epilepsy Causes

Epilepsy Symptoms and Diagnosis

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Research and Clinical Trials

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

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Ohio State Comprehensive Epilepsy Center

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Heather Usher, APRN-CNP

4.9 out of 5

Heather Usher, APRN-CNP

Neurology

Nurse Practitioner

Outpatient Care Dublin
Brain and Spine Hospital
Outpatient Care Gahanna
Neurology in Outpatient Care Dublin
Neurology in Outpatient Care Gahanna

(614) 293-4969

Maryam Mian, MBBS

Maryam Mian, MBBS

Neurology
Neurology - Epilepsy

Physician

Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology

Outpatient Care Dublin
Neurology in Outpatient Care Dublin

(614) 293-4969

Danielle Becker, MD

Danielle Becker, MD

Neurology - Epilepsy
Neurology

Physician

McCampbell Outpatient Care
Outpatient Care New Albany
Brain and Spine Hospital
Obstetrics and Gynecology in McCampbell Outpatient Care
Neurology in Outpatient Care New Albany

(614) 293-4969

Kristina Knickerbocker, APRN-CNP

Kristina Knickerbocker, APRN-CNP

Neurology

Nurse Practitioner

Brain and Spine Hospital

(614) 293-4448

Alfred Paige, MD

4.5 out of 5

Alfred Paige, MD

Neurology - Epilepsy
Neurology

Physician

Outpatient Care New Albany
Outpatient Care Gahanna
Neurology in Outpatient Care Gahanna
Neurology in Outpatient Care New Albany

(614) 293-4969

Erica Dawson, PhD

Erica Dawson, PhD

Psychology
Clinical Neuropsychology

Psychologist

Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health

(614) 293-4969

Crystal Epley, APRN-CNP

4.9 out of 5

Crystal Epley, APRN-CNP

Neurology

Nurse Practitioner

Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Outpatient Care Dublin
Outpatient Care Gahanna
Brain and Spine Hospital
Neurology in Outpatient Care Dublin
Neurology in Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Neurology in Outpatient Care Gahanna

(614) 293-4969

Lucretia Long, APRN-CNP

4.9 out of 5

Lucretia Long, APRN-CNP

Neurology

Nurse Practitioner

Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Outpatient Care Gahanna
Neurology in Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Neurology in Outpatient Care Gahanna

(614) 293-4969

Sarita Maturu, DO

4.9 out of 5

Sarita Maturu, DO

Neurology - Epilepsy
Neurology

Osteopathic Physician

Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology

McCampbell Outpatient Care
Outpatient Care New Albany
Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Brain and Spine Hospital
Obstetrics and Gynecology in McCampbell Outpatient Care
Neurology in Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Neurology in Outpatient Care New Albany

(614) 293-4969

Jesse Mindel, MD

4.7 out of 5

Jesse Mindel, MD

Sleep Medicine
Neurology
Neurology - Epilepsy

Physician

Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology

Outpatient Care Dublin
Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Sleep Medicine in Outpatient Care Dublin
Neurology in Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Neurology in Outpatient Care Dublin

(614) 293-4925

Nabil Khandker, MD

4.9 out of 5

Nabil Khandker, MD

Neurology - Epilepsy
Neurology

Physician

Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology

Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Outpatient Care Gahanna
Brain and Spine Hospital
Outpatient Care Dublin
Neurology in Outpatient Care Dublin
Neurology in Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
Neurology in Outpatient Care Gahanna

(614) 293-4969

Samuel Palumbo, APRN-CNP

4.9 out of 5

Samuel Palumbo, APRN-CNP

Neurology

Nurse Practitioner

Outpatient Care New Albany

(614) 293-4969

Jaysingh Singh, MD

4.8 out of 5

Jaysingh Singh, MD

Neurology - Epilepsy
Neurology

Physician

Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology

Outpatient Care Dublin
Brain and Spine Hospital
Neurology in Outpatient Care Dublin

(614) 293-4969

Timothy Lucas, MD, PHD

Timothy Lucas, MD, PHD

Neurological Surgery

Physician

Professor of Neurological Surgery

Outpatient Care New Albany
Brain and Spine Hospital
Neurosurgery in Outpatient Care New Albany

(855) 255-0550

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Ohio State Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital

Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital

480 Medical Center Drive
Columbus, OH 43210

614-293-5275

Ohio State Brain and Spine Hospital

Neurological Specialty Care

in Brain and Spine Hospital

300 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210

614-293-4969

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Outpatient Health and Surgery Center

Neurology

in Outpatient Care New Albany

6100 North Hamilton Road
5th Floor, Suite 5A
Westerville, OH 43081

614-293-4969

Ohio State Outpatient Care Gahanna

Neurology

in Outpatient Care Gahanna

920 N. Hamilton Road
Suite 500
Gahanna, OH 43230

614-293-4969

MarthaMorehouse_tile

Neurology

in Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care

2050 Kenny Road
Pavilion 3rd Floor Suite 3100
Columbus, OH 43221

614-293-4969

Ohio State Outpatient Care Dublin

Neurology

in Outpatient Care Dublin

6700 University Boulevard
5th Floor, Suite 5A
Dublin, OH 43016

614-293-4969

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Outpatient Health and Surgery Center

Neurosurgery

in Outpatient Care New Albany

6100 North Hamilton Road
5th Floor, Suite 5B
Westerville, OH 43081

614-293-8714

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