Can the improvement of mood after the use of antiepileptic drugs be a prognosis when it comes to reducing the frequency of epileptic seizures?

To the best of my knowledge, making such simplifications or certainties, despite some common points, may not be justified - both due to the complex mechanism of action of drugs and the complicated background of diseases such as depression or epilepsy. I suppose that the most accurate assessment may be made by a neurologist with experience in treating patients suffering from both diseases in parallel: https://www.gdziepolek.pl/telekonsultacja Yes, there is a connection, because depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the course of epilepsy. At the same time, in patients with epilepsy, depression occurs more often than in the general population. It is further believed that there may be - but not in every patient - common mechanisms for the development of depression and epilepsy, including those taking into account the level of neurotransmitters from the monoamine group. In this case, antiepileptic drugs with normothymic properties by increasing the concentration of neurotransmitters important for the development of depression could be helpful in both diseases. However, a particular type of epilepsy may be resistant to a specific drug and despite improving mood, epilepsy treatment will not be effective. At the same time, regardless of the drug used, depression itself can have an adverse effect on the course of epilepsy, and when it is successfully treated - the number of seizures may decrease. It can also work the other way around – fewer seizures can contribute to improving the quality of life, well-being and effectiveness of antidepressant therapy at the behavioral level. However, there are types of epilepsy and clinical situations associated with epilepsy, when antiepileptic drugs that have mood-affecting properties will not work and there will be a need to use other drugs that do not have a positive effect on the level of serotonin and similar compounds. On the other hand, some antidepressants can lower the threshold of seizure excitability. I enclose our studies that may be helpful: https://www.gdziepolek.pl/artykuly/depresja https://www.gdziepolek.pl/artykuly/co-zrobic-po-pierwszym-ataku-padaczki