Priority 11 from the Epilepsy (Canada) PSP

UNCERTAINTY: How do seizures impact the mood of people who experience them and what are the best methods to manage mood swings? (JLA PSP Priority 11)
Overall ranking	11
JLA question ID	0110/11
Explanatory note	Mood disorders often co-occur with epilepsy and can have a negative impact on quality of life. Symptoms of mood disorders include feelings of depression, anger, anxiety, and irritability. More research is needed to determine how mood is impacted by changes in brain structure and function, seizure activity and anti-seizure medications, and how treatments such as anti-depressant medication, psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy can be used to manage mood changes in people with seizures.
Evidence	Jackson, C. F., Makin, S. M., & Baker, G. A. (2015). Neuropsychological and psychological interventions for people with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(7). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011311.pub2 Maguire, M. J., Weston, J., Singh, J., & Marson, A. G. (2014). Antidepressants for people with epilepsy and depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(12). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010682.pub2 Blümcke, I., Thom, M., Aronica, E., Armstrong, D. D., Bartolomei, F., Bernasconi, A., . . . Spreafico, R. (2013). International consensus classification of hippocampal sclerosis in temporal lobe epilepsy: A Task Force report from the ILAE Commission on Diagnostic Methods. Epilepsia, 54, 1315-1329. doi:10.1111/epi.12220 Kerr, M. P., Mensah, S., Besag, F., De Toffol, B., Ettinger, A., Kanemoto, K., . . . Wilson, S. J. (2011). International consensus clinical practice statements for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions associated with epilepsy. Epilepsia, 52, 2133-2138. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03276.x Epilepsy: a public health imperative. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019.
Health Research Classification System category	Neurological

Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples	How can we improve the mood in patients with epilepsy? How much that problem impact in the seizure control? ~ Recent studies have identified loneliness (feelings of isolation) as having detrimental effects on mental and physical health. Are specialists able to identify the feeling of isolation before it becomes a more persistent problem? Has there been enough research on isolation and loneliness in regard to epilepsy and co-existing conditions? ~ Is it possible to help treat post Mania after my seizures. Is their possible treatment for weird and uncontrolled behaviour / freak outs after seizures
Submitted by	People with Seizures x 9, Caregivers x 1, Friend or Family Member x 6, Health Care provider x 2

Extra information provided by this PSP

Original uncertainty examples

How can we improve the mood in patients with epilepsy? How much that problem impact in the seizure control? ~ Recent studies have identified loneliness (feelings of isolation) as having detrimental effects on mental and physical health. Are specialists able to identify the feeling of isolation before it becomes a more persistent problem? Has there been enough research on isolation and loneliness in regard to epilepsy and co-existing conditions? ~ Is it possible to help treat post Mania after my seizures. Is their possible treatment for weird and uncontrolled behaviour / freak outs after seizures

Submitted by

People with Seizures x 9, Caregivers x 1, Friend or Family Member x 6, Health Care provider x 2

PSP information
PSP unique ID	0110
PSP name	Epilepsy (Canada)
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP.	96 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop	6th & 7th April 2021