Evaluation of depression in Iranian children with epilepsy, which referred to neurological clinic of Mofid Hospital

Epilepsy is among the most common pediatric neurological disorders in need of long-term medication treatment. Some studies also show increased risk of depression among children and adolescents with epilepsy. Epileptic children and adolescents experience more emotional and behavioral problems than healthy children and adolescents or others who are suffering from other chronic diseases. The aim of the present study is to investigate the depression rate and its related risk factors in children with epilepsy. In this descriptive study 70 children with epilepsy who were referred to neurological clinic in Mofid Hospital of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were selected. The measurement tools were demographic questionnaire، children and adolescent depression test، which has been designed for Iranian society. In the present study 85. 7% of epileptic patients were depressed (mild to moderate). ‍ The results of this study indicated there is a very high rate of depression in these children with epilepsy. According to treatable nature of depression، early screening and diagnosing of depression were suggested.