Epilepsy and School Performance: Does Depression Play a Role?

Epilepsy is a long-lasting neurological disorder that requires constant supervision and treatment. It is estimated that approximately 300,000 children and adolescents have epilepsy in the United States. Having any chronic medical condition - including epilepsy - has physical, psychological, emotional and financial impacts in both the child and their family. In this setting, emotional problems, such as depression and anxiety can also occur, and create a very poor quality of life if not properly addressed.

Depression is frequently seen in individuals with epilepsy. In fact, depression and suicide is higher in epileptic individuals compared to general population. A recent study indicates that depression can also extend to the child’s school performance. From the results of this study, children with epilepsy and depression did poorer in school compared to children without epilepsy.

Therefore, parents must be aware of their children’s school performance and frequently be in touch with their child’s teachers and healthcare provider. If needed, children with symptoms of depression must be evaluated immediately and treated in order to help their school performance – as well as enhance their quality of life.