Development of the transition-age program (TAP): Review of a pilot psychosocial multidisciplinary transition program in a Level 4 epilepsy center

Abstract

Approximately 50% of patients diagnosed with epilepsy in childhood will need treatment in adulthood. Transition from pediatric to adult epilepsy care is challenging, and an unsuccessful transition can have detrimental effects. Researchers emphasize the importance of addressing possible barriers to transition in a multidisciplinary setting. In this paper, we describe a transition program implemented in a Level 4 epilepsy center in the Midwest. This program involves a psychosocial multidisciplinary team including a pediatric neuropsychologist, pediatric psychologist, and social worker who meet jointly with patient and his/her caregiver(s) before and after the transition. The pretransition visit involves assessment of transition readiness, screening for neurobehavioral comorbidities, provision of education regarding epilepsy care during the transition period, goal-setting, and development of a portable summary. The posttransition visit revisits goals and provides additional individualized recommendations and/or referrals for intervention as clinically indicated. The goal of this program is to facilitate a smooth transition from pediatric to adult providers to ensure optimal epilepsy care and quality of life.