The psychosocial impact of epilepsy in adults

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.