Depression Increases Epilepsy Risk, Makes It Harder To Treat

Key Takeaways

Depression is tied to epilepsy

People with depression have a more than doubled risk of developing epilepsy

Depression makes epilepsy harder to treat

MONDAY, Dec. 8, 2025 (HealthDay News) — People with depression have a more than doubled risk of developing epilepsy , a new study says.

Worse, depression then makes epilepsy more difficult to treat, according to results of a second study.

Both papers, presented Friday at the annual meeting in Atlanta of the American Epilepsy Society, shed fresh light on the complex relationship between the two conditions.

“These findings highlight the importance of early detection of both conditions and coordinated care between mental health and neurology professionals,” Dr. Howard Goodkin , president of the American Epilepsy Society