Cortisol and Serotonin Patterns in Epilepsy: An Observational Study

Soumyashree Rout; Srimant Pattnaik; Deepali Mathur Agarwalla; Bikash Kumar Mishra; Twinkle Rout; Prasanta Kumar Brahma; Srikanta Kumar Sahoo

doi:10.54133/ajms.v10i1.2646

Authors

Soumyashree Rout Department of Neurology, SUM & IMS Hospital, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Srimant Pattnaik Department of Neurology, SUM & IMS Hospital, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9460-2963
Deepali Mathur Agarwalla Department of Neurology, Neurocare Center, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Bikash Kumar Mishra Department of Neurology, APPOLLO Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Twinkle Rout Department of Surgical Oncology, SUM & IMS Hospital, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1095-2684
Prasanta Kumar Brahma Department of Community Medicine, SUM & IMS Hospital, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Srikanta Kumar Sahoo Department of Neurology, SUM & IMS Hospital, SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54133/ajms.v10i1.2646

Keywords:

Cortisol, Epilepsy, Focal, Generalized, Psychiatric disorders , Serotonin

Abstract

Background: Cortisol and serotonin are known to be biomarkers for psychiatric disorders. Their effects on epilepsy patients' mental health need further study. Objective: To assess the relationship between cortisol and serotonin levels in patients with focal and generalized epilepsy who also experience major depressive disorder (MDD), intermittent explosive disorder (IED), and mild depression. Methods: This exploratory cross-sectional pilot study was conducted at IMS and Sum Hospital in Bhubaneswar. A total of 78 epileptic patients were evaluated; 26 had MDD, 26 had IED, and 26 experienced mild depression. Each group had 13 focal and 13 generalized epilepsy patients. Blood samples were collected at 8 A.M. after 48 hours of an epileptic attack. The Cobas e 601 system from Roche Diagnostics Corporation measured cortisol, while the BA E-8900 from Imussmol SAS, Pessac, France, measured serotonin. Results: After investigation, focal epilepsy patients with MDD, IED, & mild depression experienced significant fluctuations in cortisol and serotonin, while generalized patients with these conditions showed significant cortisol variations but not in serotonin levels. Generalized patients with MDD showed higher cortisol levels than focal patients, while IED patients displayed the opposite trend. Furthermore, serotonin levels were lower in focal patients with MDD and IED than in generalized epilepsy, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Cortisol and serotonin levels were substantially related to psychiatric disorders in both types of epilepsy patients.

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References

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