Abstract
Objective: To discuss significant aspects of the management of epilepsy associated with depressive states in primary health care. Bibliographic review: Epilepsy is a condition that affects the quality of life of patients and is often associated with mood disorders, especially depression. In the model adopted in the public health system in Brazil with a generalist bias, patients with epilepsy are also primarily cared for by primary care services and the management of these patients ends up facing obstacles both in diagnosis and in treatment. The adoption of previously tried propositions serve as a reference for the various primary care services, allowing for a superior offer of care that these patients need, as well as reducing the burden arising from the inappropriate conduct frequently observed in neuropsychiatric practice by professionals without specialization. Final considerations: Despite the complexity involved in the subject, there are already protocols that allow for an adequate clinical management with a reduction in morbidities, improvement in quality of life and reduction in implicit costs resulting from the associated emergence of these neuropsychiatric entities, especially in public health in Brazil.