Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Suicide Prevention pp 119–142Cite as

Suicide in Children and Adults with Epilepsy: A Complex Relationship

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1610 Accesses

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, with approximately 50 million people worldwide diagnosed with epilepsy. Suicide is a potentially preventable cause of death in epilepsy, yet it accounts for a large proportion of mortality in epilepsy with rates reported to be three to five times higher compared to healthy controls in population-based studies. In this chapter, we reviewed a number of the complexities involved in suicide among people with epilepsy, including the following: (a) prevalence of suicide compared to the general population in adults and children, (b) risk factors for suicidal behavior, (c) the bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and suicide, (d) the role of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in suicide risk, and (e) assessment of suicidal behavior as well as a review of clinical interventions aimed at treatment and prevention of suicidal behavior and its risk factors in epilepsy.

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

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

AEDs:

Antiepileptic drugs

aHR:

Adjusted hazard ratio

aOR:

Adjusted odds ratio

CDC:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CI:

Confidence interval

FDA:

US Food and Drug Administration

IRR:

Incidence rate ratio

KSADS:

Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia – Present and Lifetime Version

OR:

Odds ratio

PR:

Prevalence ratio

SMR:

Standardized mortality ratio

TLE:

Temporal lobe epilepsy

WCST:

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test

WHO:

World Health Organization

References

  1. World Health Organization. Atlas: epilepsy care in the world. Geneva: WHO; 2015. http://www.who.int/mental_health/neurology/Epilepsy_atlas_r1.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  2. World Health Organization. Neurological disorders: public health challenges. Geneva: WHO; 2015. http://www.who.int/mental_health/neurology/neurodiso/en/.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fiest KM, Sauro KM, Wiebe S, Patten SB, Kwon CS, Dykeman J, et al. Prevalence and incidence of epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of international studies. Neurology. 2017;88(3):296–303. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000003509.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Sirven JI, Shafer PQ. Epilepsy statistics. 2013. http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/epilepsy-statistics. Accessed 19 Jan 2017.

  5. Christensen J, Vestergaard M, Mortensen PB, Sidenius P, Agerbo E. Epilepsy and risk of suicide: a population-based case–control study. Lancet Neurol. 2007;6(8):693–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fazel S, Wolf A, Långström N, Newton CR, Lichtenstein P. Premature mortality in epilepsy and the role of psychiatric comorbidity: a total population study. Lancet. 2013;382(9905):1646–54.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Hesdorffer DC, Ishihara L, Webb DJ, Mynepalli L, Galwey NW, Hauser WA. Occurrence and recurrence of attempted suicide among people with epilepsy. JAMA Psychiat. 2016;73(1):80–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Thurman DJ, Logroscino G, Beghi E, Hauser WA, Hesdorffer DC, Newton CR, et al. The burden of premature mortality of epilepsy in high-income countries: a systematic review from the Mortality Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2017;58(1):17–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.13604.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: final data for 2014. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2016;65(4):1–122. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr65/nvsr65_04.pdf.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Pompili M, Girardi P, Tatarelli R. Death from suicide versus mortality from epilepsy in the epilepsies: a meta-analysis. Epilepsy Behav. 2006;9(4):641–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2006.06.019.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tian N, Cui W, Zack M, Kobau R, Fowler KA, Hesdorffer DC. Suicide among people with epilepsy: a population-based analysis of data from the US National Violent Death Reporting System, 17 states, 2003–2011. Epilepsy Behav. 2016;61:210–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Crosby A, Gfroerer J, Han B, Ortega L, Parks SE, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adults aged ≥18 years—United States, 2008–2009. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2011;60(13):1–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kessler RC, Berglund P, Borges G, Nock M, Wang PS. Trends in suicide ideation, plans, gestures, and attempts in the United States, 1990–1992 to 2001–2003. JAMA. 2005;293(20):2487–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tektonidou MG, Dasgupta A, Ward MM. Suicidal ideation among adults with arthritis: prevalence and subgroups at highest risk. Data from the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Arthritis Care Res. 2011;63(9):1322–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Walker J, Waters RA, Murray G, Swanson H, Hibberd CJ, Rush RW, et al. Better off dead: suicidal thoughts in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(29):4725–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Yang Y, Shi YZ, Zhang N, Wang S, Ungvari GS, Ng CH, et al. Suicidal ideation at 1-year post-stroke: a nationwide survey in China. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2017;44:38–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Tellez-Zenteno JF, Patten SB, Jetté N, Williams J, Wiebe S. Psychiatric comorbidity in epilepsy: a population-based analysis. Epilepsia. 2007;48(12):2336–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. 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(6):1095–103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Scott KM, Hwang I, Chiu WT, Kessler RC, Sampson NA, Angermeyer M, et al. Chronic physical conditions and their association with first onset of suicidal behavior in the world mental health surveys. Psychosom Med. 2010;72(7):712–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Meyer N, Voysey M, Holmes J, Casey D, Hawton K. Self-harm in people with epilepsy: a retrospective cohort study. Epilepsia. 2014;55(9):1355–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Dickstein LP, Viguera AC, Nowacki AS, Thompson NR, Griffith SD, Baldessarini RJ, et al. Thoughts of death and self-harm in patients with epilepsy or multiple sclerosis in a tertiary care center. Psychosomatics. 2015;56(1):44–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars. Accessed 10 Jan 2017.

  23. Nock MK, Green JG, Hwang I, McLaughlin KA, Sampson NA, Zaslavsky AM, et al. Prevalence, correlates, and treatment of lifetime suicidal behavior among adolescents: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement. JAMA Psychiat. 2013;70(3):300–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Barnes AJ, Eisenberg ME, Resnick MD. Suicide and self-injury among children and youth with chronic health conditions. Pediatrics. 2010;125(5):889–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Jones SE, Lollar DJ. Relationship between physical disabilities or long-term health problems and health risk behaviors or conditions among US high school students. J Sch Health. 2008;78(5):252–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Christiansen E, Stenager E. Risk for attempted suicide in children and youths after contact with somatic hospitals: a Danish register based nested case–control study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2012;66(3):247–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Guilfoyle SM, Monahan S, Wesolowski C, Modi AC. Depression screening in pediatric epilepsy: evidence for the benefit of a behavioral medicine service in early detection. Epilepsy Behav. 2015;44:5–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wagner JL, Smith G, Ferguson P. Self-efficacy for seizure management and youth depressive symptoms: caregiver and youth perspectives. Seizure. 2012;21(5):334–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Jones JE, Siddarth P, Gurbani S, Shields WD, Caplan R. Screening for suicidal ideation in children with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2013;29(3):521–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Chronis-Tuscano A, Molina BS, Pelham WE, Applegate B, Dahlke A, Overmyer M, et al. Very early predictors of adolescent depression and suicide attempts in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(10):1044–51.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Foley DL, Goldston DB, Costello EJ, Angold A. Proximal psychiatric risk factors for suicidality in youth: the Great Smoky Mountains Study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63(9):1017–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Dodig-Ćurković K, Ćurković M, Radić J, Degmečić D, Filaković P. Suicidal behavior and suicide among children and adolescents-risk factors and epidemiological characteristics. Coll Antropol. 2010;34(2):771–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. West BA, Swahn MH, McCarty F. Children at risk for suicide attempt and attempt-related injuries: findings from the 2007 youth risk behavior survey. West J Emerg Med. 2010;11(3):257–63.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Gandy M, Sharpe L, Perry KN, Miller L, Thayer Z, Boserio J, et al. The psychosocial correlates of depressive disorders and suicide risk in people with epilepsy. J Psychosom Res. 2013;74(3):227–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.11.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Rudzinski LA, Meador KJ. Epilepsy and neuropsychological comorbidities. Continuum. 2013;19(3):682–96.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Davies S, Heyman I, Goodman R. A population survey of mental health problems in children with epilepsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2003;45(5):292–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Fastenau PS, Johnson CS, Perkins SM, Byars AW, Austin JK, Dunn DW. Neuropsychological status at seizure onset in children risk factors for early cognitive deficits. Neurology. 2009;73(7):526–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Hermann B, Jones J, Dabbs K, Allen CA, Sheth R, Fine J, et al. The frequency, complications and aetiology of ADHD in new onset paediatric epilepsy. Brain. 2007;130(12):3135–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Reilly C, Atkinson P, Das KB, Chin RF, Aylett SE, Burch V, et al. Screening for mental health disorders in active childhood epilepsy: population-based data. Epilepsy Res. 2014;108(10):1917–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Russ SA, Larson K, Halfon N. A national profile of childhood epilepsy and seizure disorder. Pediatrics. 2012;129(2):256–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Wagner JL, Wilson DA, Smith G, Malek A, Selassie AW. Neurodevelopmental and mental health comorbidities in children and adolescents with epilepsy and migraine: a response to identified research gaps. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2015;57(1):45–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.12555.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Chesney E, Goodwin GM, Fazel S. Risks of all-cause and suicide mortality in mental disorders: a meta-review. World Psychiatry. 2014;13(2):153–60.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Rocco PL, Orbitello B, Ciano RP, Angarano A, Balestrieri M. Suicidal behaviour and intensity of psychiatric care in a region at high risk for suicide. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2004;8(3):153–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Andrade-Machado R, Ochoa-Urrea M, Garcia-Espinosa A, Benjumea-Cuartas V, Santos-Santos A. Suicidal risk, affective dysphoric disorders, and quality-of-life perception in patients with focal refractory epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2015;45:254–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.01.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Blumer D, Montouris G, Davies K, Wyler A, Phillips B, Hermann B. Suicide in epilepsy: psychopathology, pathogenesis, and prevention. Epilepsy Behav. 2002;3(3):232–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Jones JE, Hermann BP, Barry JJ, Gilliam FG, Kanner AM, Meador KJ. Rates and risk factors for suicide, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in chronic epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2003;4:31–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2003.08.019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Nilsson L, Ahlbom A, Farahmand BY, Åsberg M, Tomson T. Risk factors for suicide in epilepsy: a case control study. Epilepsia. 2002;43(6):644–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Hecimovic H, Santos JM, Carter J, Attarian HP, Fessler AJ, Vahle V, Gilliam F. Depression but not seizure factors or quality of life predicts suicidality in epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2012;24(4):426–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Andrade-Machado R, Benjumea-Cuartas V, Santos-Santos A, Sosa-Dubón MA, García-Espinosa A, Andrade-Gutierrez G. Mortality in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy at a tertiary center in Cuba. Epilepsy Behav. 2015;53:154–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.08.038.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Caplan R, Siddarth P, Gurbani S, Hanson R, Sankar R, Shields WD. Depression and anxiety disorders in pediatric epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2005;46(5):720–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Keilp JG, Gorlyn M, Russell M, Oquendo MA, Burke AK, Harkavy-Friedman J, et al. Neuropsychological function and suicidal behavior: attention control, memory and executive dysfunction in suicide attempt. Psychol Med. 2013;43(03):539–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Keilp JG, Beers SR, Burke AK, Melhem NM, Oquendo MA, Brent DA, et al. Neuropsychological deficits in past suicide attempters with varying levels of depression severity. Psychol Med. 2014;44(14):2965–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Keilp JG, Gorlyn M, Oquendo MA, Burke AK, Mann JJ. Attention deficit in depressed suicide attempters. Psychiatry Res. 2008;159(1):7–17.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Jollant F, Bellivier F, Leboyer M, Astruc B, Torres S, Verdier R, et al. Impaired decision making in suicide attempters. Am J Psychiatry. 2005;162(2):304–10. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.2.304.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Turecki G. Dissecting the suicide phenotype: the role of impulsive-aggressive behaviours. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2005;30(6):398–408.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  56. Westheide J, Quednow BB, Kuhn KU, Hoppe C, Cooper-Mahkorn D, Hawellek B, et al. Executive performance of depressed suicide attempters: the role of suicidal ideation. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2008;258(7):414–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-008-0811-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Garcia-Espinosa A, Andrade-Machado R, Borges-Gonzalez S, Garcia-Gonzalez ME, Perez-Montoto A, Toledo-Sotomayor G. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance and impulsivity in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: suicidal risk and suicide attempts. Epilepsy Behav. 2010;17(1):39–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.09.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. de Oliveira GN, Kummer A, Salgado JV, de Araujo Filho GM, David AS, Teixeira AL. Suicidality in temporal lobe epilepsy: measuring the weight of impulsivity and depression. Epilepsy Behav. 2011;22(4):745–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Patton JH, Stanford MS. Factor structure of the Barratt impulsiveness scale. J Clin Psychol. 1995;51(6):768–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Schoenberg MR, Werz MA, Drane DL. Epilepsy and seizures. In: Schoenberg MR, Scott JG, editors. The little black book of neuropsychology: a syndrome-based approach. New York: Springer; 2011. p. 423–519.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  61. Fukuchi T, Kanemoto K, Kato M, Ishida S, Yuasa S, Kawasaki J, et al. Death in epilepsy with special attention to suicide cases. Epilepsy Res. 2002;51(3):233–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Ding D, Wang W, Wu J, Yang H, Li S, Dai X, et al. Premature mortality risk in people with convulsive epilepsy: long follow-up of a cohort in rural China. Epilepsia. 2013;54(3):512–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.12048.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Nevalainen O, Raitanen J, Ansakorpi H, Artama M, Isojärvi J, Auvinen A. Long-term mortality risk by cause of death in newly diagnosed patients with epilepsy in Finland: a nationwide register-based study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2013;28(12):981–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Aaberg KM, Bakken IJ, Lossius MI, Søraas CL, Håberg SE, Stoltenberg C, et al. Comorbidity and childhood epilepsy: a nationwide registry study. Pediatrics. 2016;138:e20160921. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-0921.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Nickels KC, Zaccariello MJ, Hamiwka LD, Wirrell EC. Cognitive and neurodevelopmental comorbidities in paediatric epilepsy. Nat Rev Neurol. 2016;12(8):465–76. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2016.98.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Hesdorffer DC, French JA, Posner K, DiVentura B, Pollard JR, Sperling MR, et al. Suicidal ideation and behavior screening in intractable focal epilepsy eligible for drug trials. Epilepsia. 2013;54(5):879–87. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.12128.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Baldin E, Hesdorffer DC, Caplan R, Berg AT. Psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior in neurotypical young adults with childhood-onset epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2015;56(10):1623–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  68. Quigg M, Broshek DK, Heidal-Schiltz S, Maedgen JW, Bertram EH. Depression in intractable partial epilepsy varies by laterality of focus and surgery. Epilepsia. 2003;44(3):419–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Pompili M, Girardi P, Tatarelli G, Angeletti G, Tatarelli R. Suicide after surgical treatment in patients with epilepsy: a meta-analytic investigation. Psychol Rep. 2006;98(2):323–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Hamid H, Devinsky O, Vickrey BG, Berg AT, Bazil CW, Langfitt JT, et al. Suicide outcomes after resective epilepsy surgery. Epilepsy Behav. 2011;20(3):462–4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Bell GS, Gaitatzis A, Bell CL, Johnson AL, Sander JW. Suicide in people with epilepsy: how great is the risk? Epilepsia. 2009;50(8):1933–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Ryan HF, Merrill FB, Scott GE, Krebs R, Thompson BL. Increase in suicidal thoughts and tendencies: association with diazepam therapy. JAMA. 1968;203(13):1137–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Abraham G. Topiramate-induced suicidality. Can J Psychiatr. 2003;48(2):127–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Kalinin VV. Suicidality and antiepileptic drugs. Drug Saf. 2007;30(2):123–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. FDA. Safety: antiepileptic drugs. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanmedicalProducts/ucm074939.htm.

  76. Fountoulakis KN, Gonda X, Baghai TC, Baldwin DS, Bauer M, Blier P, et al. Report of the WPA section of pharmacopsychiatry on the relationship of antiepileptic drugs with suicidality in epilepsy. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2015;19(3):158–67. https://doi.org/10.3109/13651501.2014.1000930.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Mula M, Sander JW. Suicidal ideation in epilepsy and levetiracetam therapy. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;11(1):130–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Patorno E, Bohn RL, Wahl PM, Avorn J, Patrick AR, Liu J, et al. Anticonvulsant medications and the risk of suicide, attempted suicide, or violent death. JAMA. 2010;303(14):1401–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Arana A, Wentworth CE, Ayuso-Mateos JL, Arellano FM. Suicide-related events in patients treated with antiepileptic drugs. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(6):542–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Wen X, Meador KJ, Loring DW, Eisenschenk S, Segal R, Hartzema AG. Is antiepileptic drug use related to depression and suicidal ideation among patients with epilepsy? Epilepsy Behav. 2010;19(3):494–500.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Andersohn F, Schade R, Willich SN, Garbe E. Use of antiepileptic drugs in epilepsy and the risk of self-harm or suicidal behavior. Neurology. 2010;75(4):335–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Pugh MJ, Copeland LA, Zeber JE, Wang CP, Amuan ME, Mortensen EM, et al. Antiepileptic drug monotherapy exposure and suicide-related behavior in older veterans. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012;60(11):2042–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04207.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Leon AC, Demirtas H, Li C, Hedeker D. Two propensity score-based strategies for a three-decade observational study: investigating psychotropic medications and suicide risk. Stat Med. 2012;31(27):3255–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Leon AC, Solomon DA, Li C, Fiedorowicz JG, Coryell WH, Endicott J, et al. Antiepileptic drugs for bipolar disorder and the risk of suicidal behavior: a 30-year observational study. Am J Psychiatry. 2012;169(3):285–91.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  85. Andrade-Machado R, Garcia-Espinosa A, Melendrez D, Remon-Gonzalez Y, Frades-Garcia V, Quintana-Rodriguez Y. Suicidal risk and suicide attempts in people treated with antiepileptic drugs for epilepsy. Seizure. 2011;20(4):280–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2010.12.010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  86. Grimaldi-Bensouda L, Nordon C, Rossignol M, Jardon V, Boss V, Warembourg F, et al. Antiepileptic drugs and risk of suicide attempts: a case–control study exploring the impact of underlying medical conditions. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2017;26(3):239–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/pds.4160.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Mula M, Bell GS, Sander JW. Suicidality in epilepsy and possible effects of antiepileptic drugs. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2010;10(4):327–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Forsgren L, Nyström L. An incident case-referent study of epileptic seizures in adults. Epilepsy Res. 1990;6(1):66–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Hesdorffer DC, Hauser WA, Annegers JF, Cascino G. Major depression is a risk factor for seizures in older adults. Ann Neurol. 2000;47(2):246–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Hesdorffer DC, Hauser WA, Olafsson E, Ludvigsson P, Kjartansson O. Depression and suicide attempt as risk factors for incident unprovoked seizures. Ann Neurol. 2006;59(1):35–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Adelöw C, Andersson T, Ahlbom A, Tomson T. Hospitalization for psychiatric disorders before and after onset of unprovoked seizures/epilepsy. Neurology. 2012;78(6):396–401.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Kanner AM. Suicidality and epilepsy: a complex relationship. In: Koslow SH, Ruiz P, Nemeroff CB, editors. A concise guide to understanding suicide: epidemiology, pathophysiology and prevention. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2014. p. 130–7.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  93. Kanner AM, Ribot R. Depression. In: Mula M, editor. Neuropsychiatric symptoms of epilepsy. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing; 2016. p. 25–41.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  94. Hesselgrave N, Parsey RV. Imaging the serotonin 1A receptor using [11C]WAY100635 in healthy controls and major depression. Phil Trans R Soc B. 2013;368(1615):20120004. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0004.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  95. Toczek MT, Carson RE, Lang L, Ma Y, Spanaki MV, Der MG, et al. PET imaging of 5-HT1A receptor binding in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Neurology. 2003;60(5):749–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. Hasler G, Bonwetsch R, Giovacchini G, Toczek MT, Bagic A, Luckenbaugh DA, et al. 5-HT 1A receptor binding in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with and without major depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2007;62(11):1258–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.02.015.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  97. Kanner AM, Mazarati A, Koepp M. Biomarkers of epileptogenesis: psychiatric comorbidities (?). Neurotherapeutics. 2014;11(2):358–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  98. Rajkowska G, O’Dwyer G, Teleki Z, Stockmeier CA, Miguel-Hidalgo JJ. GABAergic neurons immunoreactive for calcium binding proteins are reduced in the prefrontal cortex in major depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2007;32(2):471–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  99. Sequeira A, Mamdani F, Ernst C, Vawter MP, Bunney WE, Lebel V, et al. Global brain gene expression analysis links glutamatergic and GABAergic alterations to suicide and major depression. PLoS One. 2009;4(8):e6585. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006585.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  100. Keller J, Gomez R, Williams G, Lembke A, Lazzeroni L, Murphy GM, et al. HPA axis in major depression: cortisol, clinical symptomatology and genetic variation predict cognition. Mol Psychiatry. 2016;22(4):527–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  101. Jones NC, O’Brien TJ. Stress, epilepsy, and psychiatric comorbidity: how can animal models inform the clinic? Epilepsy Behav. 2013;26(3):363–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  102. Kumar G, Couper A, O’Brien TJ, Salzberg MR, Jones NC, Rees SM, et al. The acceleration of amygdala kindling epileptogenesis by chronic low-dose corticosterone involves both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007;32(7):834–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  103. Maguire J, Salpekar JA. Stress, seizures, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis targets for the treatment of epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2013;26(3):352–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  104. Hecimovic H, Salpekar J, Kanner AM, Barry JJ. Suicidality and epilepsy: a neuropsychobiological perspective. Epilepsy Behav. 2011;22(1):77–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  105. Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN). Diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults. 2015. http://www.sign.ac.uk. Accessed 5 Jan 2017.

  106. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The epilepsies: the diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in adults and children in primary and secondary Care. 2014. http://guidance.nice.org.uk/cg137. Accessed 5 Jan 2017.

  107. 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. Epilepsia. 2011;52(11):2133–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03276.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  108. Strzelczyk A, Zschebek G, Bauer S, Baumgartner C, Grond M, Hermsen A, et al. Predictors of and attitudes toward counseling about SUDEP and other epilepsy risk factors among Austrian, German, and Swiss neurologists and neuropediatricians. Epilepsia. 2016;57(4):612–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.13337.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  109. Gilliam FG, Barry JJ, Hermann BP, Meador KJ, Vahle V, Kanner AM. Rapid detection of major depression in epilepsy: a multicentre study. Lancet Neurol. 2006;5(5):399–405.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  110. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606–13.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  111. Altura KC, Patten SB, Fiest KM, Atta C, Bulloch AG, Jetté N. Suicidal ideation in persons with neurological conditions: prevalence, associations and validation of the PHQ-9 for suicidal ideation. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2016;42:22–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  112. 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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.02.015.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  113. Seo JG, Cho YW, Lee SJ, Lee JJ, Kim JE, Moon HJ, et al. Validation of the generalized anxiety disorder-7 in people with epilepsy: a MEPSY study. Epilepsy Behav. 2014;35:59–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  114. Tong X, An D, McGonigal A, Park SP, Zhou D. Validation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) among Chinese people with epilepsy. Epilepsy Res. 2016;120:31–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  115. Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  116. Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB, Monahan PO, Löwe B. Anxiety disorders in primary care: prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146(5):317–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  117. Posner K, Brown GK, Stanley B, Brent DA, Yershova KV, Oquendo MA, et al. The Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale: initial validity and internal consistency findings from three multisite studies with adolescents and adults. Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168(12):1266–77.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  118. Kovacs M. Children’s depression inventory: technical manual. 2nd ed. North Tonawanda: MHS; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  119. Achenbach TM, Rescorla LA. Manual for the ASEBA school-age forms and profiles. Burlington: University of Vermont Research Center for Children, Youth and Families; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  120. Horowitz LM, Bridge JA, Teach SJ, Ballard E, Klima J, Rosenstein DL, et al. Ask suicide-screening questions (ASQ): a brief instrument for the pediatric emergency department. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012;166(12):1170–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  121. Glenn CR, Franklin JC, Nock MK. Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in youth. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2015;44(1):1–29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  122. Brent DA, McMakin DL, Kennard BD, Goldstein TR, Mayes TL, Douaihy AB. Protecting adolescents from self-harm: a critical review of intervention studies. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013;52(12):1260–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  123. 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(2):153–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  124. Ciechanowski P, Chaytor N, Miller J, Fraser R, Russo J, Unutzer J, et al. PEARLS depression treatment for individuals with epilepsy: a randomized controlled trial. Epilepsy Behav. 2010;19(3):225–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  125. Chaytor N, Ciechanowski P, Miller JW, Fraser R, Russo J, Unutzer J, et al. Long-term outcomes from the PEARLS randomized trial for the treatment of depression in patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2011;20(3):545–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  126. Martinović Ž, Simonović P, Djokić R. Preventing depression in adolescents with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2006;9(4):619–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  127. Blocher JB, Fujikawa M, Sung C, Jackson DC, Jones JE. Computer-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy for children with epilepsy and anxiety: a pilot study. Epilepsy Behav. 2013;27(1):70–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA

    Jana E. Jones Ph.D. & Jessica M. Bordenave Psy.D.

Authors
  1. Jana E. Jones Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jessica M. Bordenave Psy.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jana E. Jones Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Epilepsy Center/ Psychiatry Department, Neurological Institute - Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Tatiana Falcone

  2. Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education, Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Sciences School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Jane Timmons-Mitchell

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Jones, J.E., Bordenave, J.M. (2018). Suicide in Children and Adults with Epilepsy: A Complex Relationship. In: Falcone, T., Timmons-Mitchell, J. (eds) Suicide Prevention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74391-2_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74391-2_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-74390-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-74391-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation