Major depression is a risk factor for seizures in older adults

We tested the hypothesis that major depression meeting DSM-III-R criteria o r medical therapies for depression increase the risk for unprovoked seizure s. Major depression was associated with a sixfold increased risk for unprov oked seizures (95% CI, 1.56-22). The risk remained increased even when cont rolling for age, sex, length of medical follow-up, and medical therapies fo r depression. In the absence of known prior neurological insult, major depr ession is associated with an increased risk for unprovoked seizures.