Psychosocial issues for children with epilepsy

Epilepsy is a pervasive disorder that consists not only of seizures, but of behavioral, academic, and social difficulties. Epilepsy has an impact on the entire family and may have a significant effect on the interrelationships between child and parent. Epilepsy also has a potentially deleterious effect on academic functioning that may be the result of central nervous system dysfunction, seizures, antiepileptic drugs, or child and family response to illness. Early assessment for psychosocial problems and appropriate interventions can be beneficial for the child and family. Particular attention should be paid to periods of transition such as the move from adolescence to adulthood.

Research highlights
► Families of children with epilepsy have more disrupted environments than families of children with other chronic conditions.
► Parenting difficulties may be a better predictor of behavior problems in children with epilepsy than seizure-related factors.
► Children with epilepsy are at increased risk for academic problems.
► There is limited data on evidence-based psychosocial interventions for children with epilepsy.
► There is a need for improvement in managing transitions in care from childhood/adolescence to young adulthood.