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Introduction: Interictal depression as a co morbid disorder can be seen among more than 40% of patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy duration as well as selected antiepileptic drugs can be suitable for the development of depressive disorder in many aspects., Aim: To test relation between depressive disorder in patients with epilepsy, duration of illness and type of antiepileptic therapy., Patients and Methods: Prospectively, by random selection, we have tested 300 patients with epilepsy, with or without depressive affective disorder at the Outpatient Department for Epilepsies in the Clinical Center of Sarajevo University. All patients answered Beck and Hamilton depression scales., Results: This research involved male patients which made 54% of baseline at the average age of 37.7 years SD = 12.86, as well as female patients at average age of 32.83 years SD = 12.26. Depressive disorder according to the results at the Beck scale was present in 34%, and according to the Hamilton scale in 38.9% of patients. Carbamazepin as monotherapy was applied for more than a half of the baseline, Phenobarbital as monotherapy and combined with Carbamazepin significantly more frequently among men's (p < 0.0001). Duration of illnesses longer than 20 years had 56% women with the expressed depressive disorder, compared to the 42% men's with depression (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: Depressive disorder occurs significantly more frequently among women with the longer epilepsy duration, as well as among male patients who had Phenobarbital as single or add on therapy.

Seizures are influenced by the physiologic variation in sex hormone secretion during the menstrual cycle and throughout the reproductive life of women with epilepsy. Catamenial epilepsy is defined as the occurrence of seizures around menses or an increase in seizures in relationto the menstrual cycle. The incidence of catamenial epilepsy varies from 10% to 78%, largely because of methodological differences among studies. Variation in concentracion of antiepileptic drugs across the menstrual cycle may also contribute to increased seizure susceptibility. It is important for the physician to work closely with the patient to determine whether her seizures are indeed catamenial and to design an appropriate treatment plan.

Epilepsies are one of the most common neurological disorders. Men and women are almost equally affected. Women bear specific features because of their natural characteristics and changes in hormonal status, which can affect the clinical presentation and the course of the disease as well as the comorbidity of various disorders. By this, we have in mind a mutual influence of steroid hormones and antiepileptic drugs, calcium and phosphorus transport disorder, insulin and lipid metabolism, adverse cosmetic effects, sexual dysfunctions, pregnancy, teratogenity and the delay in fetal development and bone diseases.