Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Relationship Between Epilepsy and Anxiety Disorders

  • Anxiety Disorders (A Pelissolo, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Psychiatry Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The current review aims at providing an overview of relevant aspects of anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders (AD) in adults patients with epilepsy (PWE).

Recent Findings

Firstly, the appropriate diagnosis of type of anxiety symptoms and AD in PWE will be presented. Anxiety symptoms are often peri-ictal and classified in relation to their temporal occurrence to seizures. Anxiety symptoms are of three types: preictal (preceding a seizure), ictal (presenting as part of the seizure symptoms and signs), and postictal (occurring within 72 h of a seizure). AD are diagnosed in the interictal period and occur independently of seizures. Four specific AD in PWE can be objectified: anticipatory anxiety of epileptic seizures (AAS), seizure phobia, epileptic social phobia, and epileptic panic disorder. Secondly, the bidirectional pathophysiological relationship between anxiety and epilepsy will be described. Anxiety is a trigger for seizures in some patients, and the notion of stress and arousal is essential to understand the relationship between anxiety and seizure. Moreover, seizures arising from the limbic network especially involving amygdala, which may express fear-related semiology, provide insight into the pathophysiology of AD comorbidities. Thirdly, the methods of screening for AD and anxiety symptoms will be detailed. Fourthly, the pharmacological and psychobehavioral management of anxiety symptoms and AD in PWE will be presented. Arousal-based approaches for preictal and ictal symptoms and anxiety-based approaches for postictal and interictal symptoms will be presented.

Summary

Despite lack of evidence-based approaches, it is recognized that management of epilepsy is not only about controlling seizures, but also depends heavily on detecting, correctly diagnosing, and appropriately managing anxiety symptoms and AD comorbidities, in order to maximize quality of life. Improving self-control and self-efficacy is of fundamental importance in the management of PWE. Further rigorously designed studies focusing on anxiety symptoms and AD are essential to improve the overall care of PWE.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Tellez-Zenteno JF, Patten SB, Jetté N, Williams J, Wiebe S. Psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy: a population-based analysis. Epilepsia. 2007;48:2336–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kanner AM. Anxiety disorders in epilepsy: the forgotten psychiatric comorbidity. Epilepsy Curr. 2011;11:90–1.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Munger Clary HM, Salpekar JA. Should adult neurologists play a role in the management of the most common psychiatric comorbidities? Practical considerations. Epilepsy Behav. 2018.

  4. Josephson CB, Jetté N. Psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2017:1–16.

  5. • Jansen C, Francomme L, Vignal J-P, Jacquot C, Schwan R, Tyvaert L, et al. Interictal psychiatric comorbidities of drug-resistant focal epilepsy: prevalence and influence of the localization of the epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2018; This recent article is the first to distinguish classical and specific psychiatric disorders related to epilepsy in terms of prevalence.

  6. Gandy M, Sharpe L, Perry KN, Miller L, Thayer Z, Boserio J, et al. Rates of DSM-IV mood, anxiety disorders, and suicidality in Australian adult epilepsy outpatients: a comparison of well-controlled versus refractory epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2013;26:29–35.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rai D, Kerr MP, McManus S, Jordanova V, Lewis G, Brugha TS. Epilepsy and psychiatric comorbidity: a nationally representative population-based study. Epilepsia. 2012;53:1095–103.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. •• Scott AJ, Sharpe L, Hunt C, Gandy M. Anxiety and depressive disorders in people with epilepsy: a meta-analysis. Epilepsia. 2017;58(6):973–82. A recent meta-analysis that highlights the relative lack of data on anxiety in epilepsy, which is a prevalent and under-estimated comorbidity with significant consequences for quality of life and even mortality .

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Choi-Kwon S, Chung C, Kim H, Lee S, Yoon S, Kho H, et al. Factors affecting the quality of life in patients with epilepsy in Seoul, South Korea. Acta Neurol Scand. 2003;108:428–34.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. •• Brandt C, Mula M. Anxiety disorders in people with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2016;59:87–91. This article is a helpful recent review of clinical aspects of anxiety in epilepsy by two specialists in the field.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hesdorffer DC, Ishihara L, Mynepalli L, Webb DJ, Weil J, Hauser WA. Epilepsy, suicidality, and psychiatric disorders: a bidirectional association. Ann Neurol. 2012;72:184–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. de Toffol B, Hingray C, Biberon J, El-Hage W. Psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy. Presse Med (Paris, France 1983). 2018;(47):243–50.

  13. Kanner AM. Ictal panic and interictal panic attacks: diagnostic and therapeutic principles. Neurol Clin. 2011;29:163–75 ix.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kanner AM, Soto A, Gross-Kanner H. Prevalence and clinical characteristics of postictal psychiatric symptoms in partial epilepsy. Neurology. 2004;62:708–13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kanner AM, Trimble M, Schmitz B. Postictal affective episodes. Epilepsy Behav. 2010;19:156–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kanner AM, Barry JJ, Gilliam F, Hermann B, Meador KJ. Anxiety disorders, subsyndromic depressive episodes, and major depressive episodes: do they differ on their impact on the quality of life of patients with epilepsy? Epilepsia. 2010;51:1152–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Mula M. The interictal dysphoric disorder of epilepsy: legend or reality? Epilepsy Behav. 2016;58:7–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Mula M, Jauch R, Cavanna A, Gaus V, Kretz R, Collimedaglia L, et al. Interictal dysphoric disorder and periictal dysphoric symptoms in patients with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2010;51:1139–45.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Krishnamoorthy ES, Trimble MR, Blumer D. The classification of neuropsychiatric disorders in epilepsy: a proposal by the ILAE Commission on Psychobiology of Epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;10:349–53.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. • Hubert-Jacquot C, Vignal J, Jansen C, Francomme L, Schwan R, hopes L, Tyvaert L, Maillard L, Hingray C. Anticipatory anxiety of epileptic seizures: an important but overlooked determining factor of quality of life. Submitted. This article is the first to present the key concepts of anticipatory anxiety and subjective anxiety during the seizure. It is a research paper, the results of which are reflected in the current article .

  21. Labudda K, Illies D, Bien CG, Neuner F. Postepileptic seizure PTSD: a very rare psychiatric condition in patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2018;78:219–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Cleary RA, Baxendale SA, Thompson PJ, Foong J. Predicting and preventing psychopathology following temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Epilepsy Behav. 2013;26:322–34.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Brandt C, Schoendienst M, Trentowska M, May TW, Pohlmann-Eden B, Tuschen-Caffier B, et al. Prevalence of anxiety disorders in patients with refractory focal epilepsy--a prospective clinic based survey. Epilepsy Behav. 2010;17:259–63.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Becker C, Bouvier E, Ghestem A, Siyoucef S, Claverie D, Camus F, et al. Predicting and treating stress-induced vulnerability to epilepsy and depression. Ann Neurol. 2015;78:128–36.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kumar G, Jones NC, Morris MJ, Rees S, O’Brien TJ, Salzberg MR. Early life stress enhancement of limbic epileptogenesis in adult rats: mechanistic insights. PLoS One. 2011;6:e24033.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Zijlmans M, van Campen JS, de Weerd A. Post traumatic stress-sensitive epilepsy. Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy 2017, 52:20-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2017.09.010

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lanteaume L, Guedj E, Bastien-Toniazzo M, Magalahaes A, Mundler O, Bartolomei F. Cognitive and metabolic correlates of emotional vulnerability in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2012:jnnp-2011-301219;83:522–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Neumann E, Blanton R. The early history of electrodermal research. Psychophysiology. 1970;6:453–75.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Reynaud E, El-Khoury-Malhame M, Blin O, Khalfa S. Voluntary emotion suppression modifies psychophysiological responses to films. J Psychophysiol. 2012;26:116–23.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Nagai Y, Critchley HD, Featherstone E, Trimble MR, Dolan RJ. Activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex covaries with sympathetic skin conductance level: a physiological account of a “default mode” of brain function. NeuroImage. 2004;22:243–51.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Vanhatalo S, Holmes MD, Tallgren P, Voipio J, Kaila K, Miller JW. Very slow EEG responses lateralize temporal lobe seizures: an evaluation of non-invasive DC-EEG. Neurology. 2003;60:1098–104.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Nagai Y, Goldstein LH, Fenwick PBC, Trimble MR. Clinical efficacy of galvanic skin response biofeedback training in reducing seizures in adult epilepsy: a preliminary randomized controlled study. Epilepsy Behav. 2004;5:216–23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Micoulaud-Franchi JA, Lanteaume L, Pallanca O, Vion-Dury J, Bartolomei F. Biofeedback and drug-resistant epilepsy: back to an earlier treatment? Rev Neurol (Paris). 2014;170:187–96.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Elbert T, Rockstroh B. Threshold regulation-a key to the understanding of the combined dynamics of EEG and event-related potentials. 1987. J Psychophysiology; 1 (1987), 3-pp. 317-333

  35. Critchley HD, Elliott R, Mathias CJ, Dolan RJ. Neural activity relating to generation and representation of galvanic skin conductance responses: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. J Neurosci. 2000;20:3033–40.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Kramer MA, Cash SS. Epilepsy as a disorder of cortical network organization. Neuroscientist. 2012;18:360–72.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Lanteaume L, Khalfa S, Régis J, Marquis P, Chauvel P, Bartolomei F. Emotion induction after direct intracerebral stimulations of human amygdala. Cereb Cortex. 2006;17:1307–13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. • Biraben A, Taussig D, Thomas P, Even C, Vignal JP, Scarabin JM, et al. Fear as the main feature of epileptic seizures. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2001;70:186–91. This paper describes semiological features of epileptic seizures characterized by subjective and/or objective signs of fear, notably related to the limbic system .

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Bartolomei F, Guye M, Wendling F, Gavaret M, Régis J, Chauvel P. Fear, anger and compulsive behavior during seizure: involvement of large scale fronto-temporal neural networks. Epileptic Disord. 2002;4:235–41.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Trebuchon A, Bartolomei F, McGonigal A, Laguitton V, Chauvel P. Reversible antisocial behavior in ventromedial prefrontal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2013;29:367–73.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Lagarde S, Roehri N, Lambert I, Trebuchon A, McGonigal A, Carron R, et al. Interictal stereotactic-EEG functional connectivity in refractory focal epilepsies. Brain. 2018;141:2966–80.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Besson P, Bandt SK, Proix T, Lagarde S, Jirsa VK, Ranjeva J-P, et al. Anatomic consistencies across epilepsies: a stereotactic-EEG informed high-resolution structural connectivity study. Brain. 2017;140:2639–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Cole DM, Smith SM, Beckmann CF. Advances and pitfalls in the analysis and interpretation of resting-state FMRI data. Front Syst Neurosci. 2010;4:8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. • Micoulaud-Franchi JA, Lagarde S, Barkate G, Dufournet B, Besancon C, Trébuchon-Da Fonseca A, et al. Rapid detection of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression in epilepsy: validation of the GAD-7 as a complementary tool to the NDDI-E in a French sample. Epilepsy Behav. 2016;57:211–6. This study highlights the relevance of the GAD-7 questionnaire in screening for Generalized Anxiety Disorder in adults with epilepsy and suggests that the GAD-7 provides complementary information to the NDDI-E (which screens for major depression).

    Google Scholar 

  45. de Oliveira GN, Lessa JMK, Gonçalves AP, Portela EJ, Sander JW, Teixeira AL. Screening for depression in people with epilepsy: Comparative study among Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Depression Subscale (HADS-D), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Epilepsy Behav. 2014;34:50–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Micoulaud-Franchi J-A, Barkate G, Trébuchon-Da Fonseca A, Vaugier L, Gavaret M, Bartolomei F, et al. One step closer to a global tool for rapid screening of major depression in epilepsy: validation of the French NDDI-E. Epilepsy Behav. 2015;44:11–6.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Micoulaud-Franchi JA, Bartolomei F, McGonigal A. Ultra-short screening instruments for major depressive episode and generalized anxiety disorder in epilepsy: the NDDIE-2 and the GAD-SI. J Affect Disord. 2017;210:237–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Kotwas I, Mcgonigal A, Bastien-Toniazzo M, Bartolomei F, Micoulaud-Franchi J-A. Stress regulation in drug-resistant epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2017;71:39–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. •• Kerr MP, Mensah S, Besag F, de Toffol B, Ettinger A, Kanemoto K, et al. International consensus clinical practice statements for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions associated with epilepsy: treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions associated with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2011;52:2133–8. This review highlights that psychiatric comorbidities and symptoms, in particular anxiety disorders and symptoms, should be systematically screened for and treated in adults with epilepsy. This review proposes standardized evaluation and recommends treatment strategies.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. • Kotwas I, McGonigal A, Trebuchon A, Bastien-Toniazzo M, Nagai Y, Bartolomei F, et al. Self-control of epileptic seizures by nonpharmacological strategies. Epilepsy Behav. 2016;55:157–64. This review highlights that perceived self-control is an important factor predicting psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy and should be targeted for the management of both seizures and psychiatric symptoms in particular anxiety and stress-related symptoms.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Hether SD, Bruno E, Johnson CT, Galupo MP. Spontaneous strategies for psychological control of seizures. Epilepsy Behav. 2013;27:140–3.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Wallston KA, Wallston BS, Smith S, Dobbins CJ. Perceived control and health. Curr Psychol. 1987;6:5–25.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Bandura A. Self-efficacy: the exercise of control. New York: Freeman; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Spector S, Cull C, Goldstein LH. High and low perceived self-control of epileptic seizures. Epilepsia. 2001;42:556–64.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Velissaris SL, Wilson SJ, Saling MM, Newton MR, Berkovic SF. The psychological impact of a newly diagnosed seizure: losing and restoring perceived control. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;10:223–33.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Asadi-Pooya AA, Schilling CA, Glosser D, Tracy JI, Sperling MR. Health locus of control in patients with epilepsy and its relationship to anxiety, depression, and seizure control. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;11:347–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Gramstad A, Iversen E, Engelsen BA. The impact of affectivity dispositions, self-efficacy and locus of control on psychosocial adjustment in patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 2001;46:53–61.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Lohse A, Kjaer TW, Sabers A, Wolf P. Epileptic aura and perception of self-control. Epilepsy Behav. 2015;45:191–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Schulze-Bonhage A, Sales F, Wagner K, Teotonio R, Carius A, Schelle A, et al. Views of patients with epilepsy on seizure prediction devices. Epilepsy Behav. 2010;18:388–96.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Hughes J, Devinsky O, Feldmann E, Bromfield E. Premonitory symptoms in epilepsy. Seizure. 1993;2:201–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Scaramelli A, Braga P, Avellanal A, Bogacz A, Camejo C, Rega I, et al. Prodromal symptoms in epileptic patients: clinical characterization of the pre-ictal phase. Seizure. 2009;18:246–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Schulze-Bonhage A, Kurth C, Carius A, Steinhoff BJ, Mayer T. Seizure anticipation by patients with focal and generalized epilepsy: a multicentre assessment of premonitory symptoms. Epilepsy Res. 2006;70:83–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Iwata BA, Lorentzson AM. Operant control of seizure-like behavior in an institutionalized retarded adult. Behav Ther. 1976;7:247–51.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Polak EL, Privitera MD, Lipton RB, Haut SR. Behavioral intervention as an add-on therapy in epilepsy: designing a clinical trial. Epilepsy Behav. 2012;25:505–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Tang V, Michaelis R, Kwan P. Psychobehavioral therapy for epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2014;32:147–55.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Kotwas I, McGonigal A, Khalfa S, Bastien-Toniazzo M, Bartolomei F, Micoulaud-Franchi J-A. A case-control study of skin conductance biofeedback on seizure frequency and emotion regulation in drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Int J Psychophysiol. 2017:103–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Micoulaud-Franchi J-A, Kotwas I, Lanteaume L, Berthet C, Bastien M, Vion-Dury J, et al. Skin conductance biofeedback training in adults with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy and stress-triggered seizures: a proof-of-concept study. Epilepsy Behav. 2014;41:244–50.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Nagai Y, Aram J, Koepp M, Lemieux L, Mula M, Critchley H, et al. Epileptic seizures are reduced by autonomic biofeedback therapy through enhancement of fronto-limbic connectivity: a controlled trial and neuroimaging study. EBioMedicine. 2018;27:112–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Kotwas I, McGonigal A, Bartolomei F, Micoulaud Franchi J-A, Bastien-Toniazzo Effect of skin conductance biofeedback on attentional mechanisms in refractory epilepsy associated with depression and anxiety. Submitted

  70. Cisler JM, Koster EHW. Mechanisms of attentional biases towards threat in anxiety disorders: an integrative review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30:203–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Hofmann SG, Sawyer AT, Witt AA, Oh D. The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: a meta-analytic review. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2010;78:169–83.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  72. Lustyk MKB, Chawla N, Nolan RS, Marlatt GA. Mindfulness meditation research: issues of participant screening, safety procedures, and researcher training. Adv Mind Body Med. 2009;24:20–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Dewhurst E, Novakova B, Reuber M. A prospective service evaluation of acceptance and commitment therapy for patients with refractory epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2015;46:234–41.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Tang V, Poon WS, Kwan P. Mindfulness-based therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy an assessor-blinded randomized trial. Neurology. 2015:10–1212.

  75. Thompson NJ, Patel AH, Selwa LM, Stoll SC, Begley CE, Johnson EK, et al. Expanding the efficacy of project UPLIFT: distance delivery of mindfulness-based depression prevention to people with epilepsy. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2015;83:304–13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. •• Michaelis R, Tang V, Wagner JL, Modi AC, LaFrance WC, Goldstein LH, et al. Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of psychological treatments for people with epilepsy on health-related quality of life. Epilepsia. 2018;59:315–32. This study highlights the interest of validated psychotherapeutic interventions, which enhance self-efficacy and perceived self-control in adults with epilepsy in order to improve health related quality of life.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Frucht MM, Quigg M, Schwaner C, Fountain NB. Distribution of seizure precipitants among epilepsy syndromes. Epilepsia. 2000;41:1534–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Spatt J, Langbauer G, Mamoli B. Subjective perception of seizure precipitants: results of a questionnaire study. Seizure. 1998;7:391–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Temkin NR, Davis GR. Stress as a risk factor for seizures among adults with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1984;25:450–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Neugebauer R, Paik M, Hauser WA, Nadel E, Leppik I, Susser M. Stressful life events and seizure frequency in patients with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1994;35:336–43.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Sperling MR, Schilling CA, Glosser D, Tracy JI, Asadi-Pooya AA. Self-perception of seizure precipitants and their relation to anxiety level, depression, and health locus of control in epilepsy. Seizure. 2008;17:302–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Maguire J, Salpekar JA. Stress, seizures, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis targets for the treatment of epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2013;26:352–62.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Gandy M, Sharpe L, Nicholson Perry K, Thayer Z, Miller L, Boserio J, et al. Cognitive behaviour therapy to improve mood in people with epilepsy: a randomised controlled trial. Cogn Behav Ther. 2014;43:153–66.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Crail-Meléndez D, Herrera-Melo A, Martínez-Juárez IE, Ramírez-Bermúdez J. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: a pilot study. Epilepsy Behav. 2012;23:52–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Macrodimitris S, Wershler J, Hatfield M, Hamilton K, Backs-Dermott B, Mothersill K, et al. Group cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with epilepsy and comorbid depression and anxiety. Epilepsy Behav. 2011;20:83–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. McLaughlin DP, McFarland K. A randomized trial of a group based cognitive behavior therapy program for older adults with epilepsy: the impact on seizure frequency, depression and psychosocial well-being. J Behav Med. 2011;34:201–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Noble AJ, Reilly J, Temple J, Fisher PL. Cognitive-behavioural therapy does not meaningfully reduce depression in most people with epilepsy: a systematic review of clinically reliable improvement. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2018;89:1129–37.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  88. Dahl J, Melin L, Lund L. Effects of a contingent relaxation treatment program on adults with refractory epileptic seizures. Epilepsia. 1987;28:125–32.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Puskarich CA, Whitman S, Dell J, Hughes JR, Rosen AJ, Hermann BP. Controlled examination of effects of progressive relaxation training on seizure reduction. Epilepsia. 1992;33:675–80.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Rousseau A, Hermann B, Whitman S. Effects of progressive relaxation on epilepsy: analysis of a series of cases. Psychol Rep. 1985;57:1203–12.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Haut SR, Lipton RB, Cornes S, Dwivedi AK, Wasson R, Cotton S, et al. Behavioral interventions as a treatment for epilepsy: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Neurology. 2018;90:e963–70.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie d’Adultes du Grand Nancy Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, 54521, Laxou, France

    Coraline Hingray

  2. Département de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy, 54000, Nancy, France

    Coraline Hingray

  3. Inserm, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France

    Aileen McGonigal

  4. APHM, Clinical Neurophysiology, Timone Hospital, Marseille, France

    Aileen McGonigal

  5. Laboratoire Parole et Langage UMR 7309, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France

    Iliana Kotwas

  6. Service d’explorations fonctionnelles du système nerveux, Clinique du sommeil, CHU de Bordeaux, Place Amélie Raba-Léon, 33076, Bordeaux, France

    Jean-Arthur Micoulaud-Franchi

  7. USR CNRS 3413 SANPSY, CHU Pellegrin, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Jean-Arthur Micoulaud-Franchi

Authors
  1. Coraline Hingray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aileen McGonigal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Iliana Kotwas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jean-Arthur Micoulaud-Franchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean-Arthur Micoulaud-Franchi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Anxiety Disorders

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hingray, C., McGonigal, A., Kotwas, I. et al. The Relationship Between Epilepsy and Anxiety Disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep 21, 40 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1029-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1029-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation