Anxiety in Epilepsy

Although anxiety commonly occurs in people with epilepsy (PWE) and has a detrimental effect on their quality of life and treatment outcomes, it has been underdiagnosed and understudied. Anxiety symptoms are often peri-ictal (preictal, ictal, and postictal) and are classified in relation to their temporal occurrence of seizures. Epilepsy and anxiety may share underlying neurobiological factors. In addition, anxiety in PWE can result from fears related to the unpredictability of seizure recurrence or stigma after their epilepsy diagnosis. Effective treatment of epilepsy could potentially alleviate anxiety symptoms. Treatment for anxiety typically involves selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, benzodiazepines, and psychotherapy. This review focuses on anxiety in PWE, exploring their pathophysiology, clinical aspects, and treatment strategies.