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Review
. 2009 Jun;15 Suppl 1(0 1):S11-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.03.029. Epub 2009 Apr 18.

The psychosocial impact of epilepsy in adults

Bruce Hermann  1 , Ann Jacoby
Affiliations
Review

The psychosocial impact of epilepsy in adults

Bruce Hermann et al. Epilepsy Behav. 2009 Jun.

Abstract

Although defined by the presence of recurrent seizures, epilepsy can be so much more and can include a very wide range of difficulties in cognition, psychiatric status, and social adaptive functioning. These psychosocial complications of epilepsy have a long history, generating calls for action by national commissions, public health agencies, and special action groups which are briefly summarized here. Next, a brief overview of the prevalence of psychosocial complications of epilepsy in population-based and other representative is presented. Finally, with a focus on the onset and development of psychosocial difficulties, the following points are stressed: (1) neurobiological factors likely contribute to psychosocial problems in a major way, but currently this contribution is poorly understood, and (2) although neurobiological factors may prove important, they operate in a social setting, and therefore, a full accounting of the etiology, treatment, and prevention of psychosocial problems in epilepsy will require an integrated biopsychosocial model and life span perspective.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Psychosocial issues of epilepsy (Lennox, 1960 [1])
Figure 2
Figure 2
The prevalence of bipolar symptoms in persons with epilepsy and other medical disorders and controls (Ettinger et al., 2005 [9]).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Patterns of cortical thinning in unilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (Lin et al, 2007 [13]).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Degree of atrophy across diverse regions both ipsilateral and contralateral to side of temporal lobe seizure onset (Pulsipher et al., 2007 [15]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Lennox WG. Epilepsy and related disorders. Boston: Little, Brown and Co.; 1960.
    1. Plan for Nationwide Action on Epilepsy: Report of the Commission for the control of Epilepsy and its Consequences. Bethesda, MD: US Department of Health, Education and Welfare; 1978.
    1. Living Well with Epilepsy: Report of the 1997 National Conference on Public Health and Epilepsy. Landover, MD: Epilepsy Foundation; 1998.
    1. Living Well with Epilepsy II: Report of the 2003 National Conference on Public Health and Epilepsy: Priorities for a public health agenda on epilepsy. Landover, MD: Epilepsy Foundation; 2004.
    1. Austin JK, Carr DA, Hermann BP. Living Well II: a review of progress since 2003. Epilepsy Behav. 2006;9:386–93. - PubMed