The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical aspects and quality of life (QOL) as risk factors for depression in patients with epilepsy. One hundred and forty outpatients with a diagnosis of epilepsy who were attending our epilepsy center participated. Patients anonymously filled out a questionnaire with clinical data related to epilepsy. Depression level was evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17), and quality of life was evaluated by the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31). Thirty-six patients with epilepsy suffered from depression (25.7%). Complex partial seizures (OR = 0.112) and number of seizure types (OR = 3.773) were found to be clinical risk factors for depression. Low scores for seizure worry (OR = 0.947) and social function (OR = 0.947) on the QOLIE-31 increased the probability of depression in patients with epilepsy. (C) 2012 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.