Psychiatric Bulletin, 33(10), October 2009, pp.384-386.
Publisher:
Royal College of Psychiatrists
This paper presents a liaison model for the management of children with more complex epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. Services used by children with epilepsy were seen by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) liaison psychiatry team in the West of Scotland. Case notes of patients with epilepsy were reviewed to determine service involvement. The majority of patients attended
This paper presents a liaison model for the management of children with more complex epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. Services used by children with epilepsy were seen by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) liaison psychiatry team in the West of Scotland. Case notes of patients with epilepsy were reviewed to determine service involvement. The majority of patients attended joint psychiatry and neurology clinics. Recommendation made by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) for the psychological management of children were found to have been met. Most patients had been assessed by a clinical psychologist and received educational psychology input and family treatment approaches, while half had social work involvement.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, psychiatric care, child and adolescent mental health services, epilepsy;
BREDKJAER Soren Rask, MORTENSEN Preben Bo, PARNAS Josef
Journal article citation:
British Journal of Psychiatry, 172, March 1998, pp.235-238.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
This article tests the hypothesis that epilepsy increases the risk of developing schizophrenia and other non-affective functional psychoses using a nation-wide sample of people with epilepsy. The findings support the notion of an association between epilepsy and the risk of subsequent non-affective psychosis.
This article tests the hypothesis that epilepsy increases the risk of developing schizophrenia and other non-affective functional psychoses using a nation-wide sample of people with epilepsy. The findings support the notion of an association between epilepsy and the risk of subsequent non-affective psychosis.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, psychiatry, risk, epilepsy;
Journal of Learning Disabilities, 8(1), March 2004, pp.89-99.
Publisher:
Sage
This study investigated the prevalence of epilepsy in learning disabilities and its association with mental illness and behavioural disturbance. Case notes were examined of adults and elderly people registered with specialist learning disability services in the Hull and Holderness area, England. Clients were divided into two groups: people with learning disabilities with an active history of epilepsy and those with no history of epilepsy. Findings from 240 clients were: 45 percent had active epilepsy; of these, 33.3 percent had onset of seizures before the age of 1 year, 76.9 percent had more then one seizure a month, and 50 percent were on one anti-epileptic drug. No significant association was found between epilepsy and behavioural disturbances or mental illness. These results may add some weight to the argument that epilepsy does not necessarily increase the incidence of mental illness and/or behavioural disturbance.
This study investigated the prevalence of epilepsy in learning disabilities and its association with mental illness and behavioural disturbance. Case notes were examined of adults and elderly people registered with specialist learning disability services in the Hull and Holderness area, England. Clients were divided into two groups: people with learning disabilities with an active history of epilepsy and those with no history of epilepsy. Findings from 240 clients were: 45 percent had active epilepsy; of these, 33.3 percent had onset of seizures before the age of 1 year, 76.9 percent had more then one seizure a month, and 50 percent were on one anti-epileptic drug. No significant association was found between epilepsy and behavioural disturbances or mental illness. These results may add some weight to the argument that epilepsy does not necessarily increase the incidence of mental illness and/or behavioural disturbance.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, mental health problems, multiple disabilities, conduct disorders, epilepsy;
Looks at the rare inherited disease, Angelman's syndrome, characterised by ataxia, severe mental retardation, epileptic seizures and absence of speech.
Looks at the rare inherited disease, Angelman's syndrome, characterised by ataxia, severe mental retardation, epileptic seizures and absence of speech.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, treatment, therapy and treatment, diagnosis, epilepsy;
... the general population. Key risk factors identified included epilepsy and suicide. The report sets out recommendations for action by national and local government in the UK, research funders and industry, as well as the NHS and service providers. Recommendations include: for medical research funders to collaborate to increase understandings of premature mortality in autism; for the government to establish
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report highlights evidence from international research which shows that people with autism are at increased risk of an early death. It draws primarily on a large population study carried out in Sweden in late 2015 which found that autistic people die on average 16 years earlier than the general population, with people autism and learning disabilities dying more than 30 years earlier than the general population. Key risk factors identified included epilepsy and suicide. The report sets out recommendations for action by national and local government in the UK, research funders and industry, as well as the NHS and service providers. Recommendations include: for medical research funders to collaborate to increase understandings of premature mortality in autism; for the government to establish a National Autism Mortality Review and commit to significantly improved data collection; and for service providers to develop clear and specific plans to prevent early death in autism.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
mortality, autism, autistic spectrum conditions, health inequalities, death, epilepsy, mental health problems;
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Based on the case of his stepdaughter, who died aged 37, the author looks at the extreme emotional, social and employment difficulties that can be experienced by those with epilepsy. Although able to present herself well for short periods of time and therefore starting around 50 jobs in 20 years, she did not feel comfortable disclosing that she had epilepsy. It became very difficult for her to hold down a job and stress, caused by inability to focus on a task, fear of asking for help and imagined critical looks or comments from colleagues often cause her to be dismissed or to leave. Her personal relationships were similarly difficult. She refused to accept mental health support. The author considers what might have been the cause of his step daughter’s poor quality of life: the epilepsy, suffered by some people with epilepsy.
Based on the case of his stepdaughter, who died aged 37, the author looks at the extreme emotional, social and employment difficulties that can be experienced by those with epilepsy. Although able to present herself well for short periods of time and therefore starting around 50 jobs in 20 years, she did not feel comfortable disclosing that she had epilepsy. It became very difficult for her to hold down a job and stress, caused by inability to focus on a task, fear of asking for help and imagined critical looks or comments from colleagues often cause her to be dismissed or to leave. Her personal relationships were similarly difficult. She refused to accept mental health support. The author considers what might have been the cause of his step daughter’s poor quality of life: the epilepsy, effects of the medication, undiagnosed learning difficulties, or mental health issues. Commenting on the literature he notes that the focus is often on seizure control to the exclusion of psychiatric comorbidity; commonly, depression, anxiety or psychosis. The author hopes that by outlining this case he can draw the attention of counsellors and medical practitioners to the emotional difficulties suffered by some people with epilepsy.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, quality of life, wellbeing, case studies, emotions, employment, epilepsy;
Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(2), February 2008, pp.163-173.
Publisher:
Wiley
The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and features of epilepsy in a community-based population of adults with ID, and to explore whether the presence of epilepsy was associated with greater psychopathology or carer strain. Data were collected on the age, gender, place of residence, adaptive and challenging behaviour, social abilities and psychiatric status of 318 adults from 40 general practices in South and Mid Wales, together with the degree of malaise and strain of family carers. For participants with epilepsy, a nurse collected information on seizures, investigations, treatment and carer concerns by interview. Association between epilepsy and psychiatric morbidity, challenging behaviour and caregiver malaise or strain, was explored by comparing those with epilepsy with a comparison group matched on adaptive behaviour. Fifty-eight participants (18%) had epilepsy: 26% were seizure free, but 34% had extremely poorly controlled seizures. Earlier onset and seizure frequency were associated with adaptive behaviour. Carer concerns were related to seizure frequency and a history of injury. There were no significant differences in psychopathology, carer malaise or caregiver strain between the matched epilepsy and non-epilepsy groups. This study supports the high occurrence and chronicity of epilepsy among people with ID. While psychopathology and carer strain is common within this population, underlying disability-related factors appear to be more important than the presence of epilepsy per se.
The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and features of epilepsy in a community-based population of adults with ID, and to explore whether the presence of epilepsy was associated with greater psychopathology or carer strain. Data were collected on the age, gender, place of residence, adaptive and challenging behaviour, social abilities and psychiatric status of 318 adults from 40 general practices in South and Mid Wales, together with the degree of malaise and strain of family carers. For participants with epilepsy, a nurse collected information on seizures, investigations, treatment and carer concerns by interview. Association between epilepsy and psychiatric morbidity, challenging behaviour and caregiver malaise or strain, was explored by comparing those with epilepsy with a comparison group matched on adaptive behaviour. Fifty-eight participants (18%) had epilepsy: 26% were seizure free, but 34% had extremely poorly controlled seizures. Earlier onset and seizure frequency were associated with adaptive behaviour. Carer concerns were related to seizure frequency and a history of injury. There were no significant differences in psychopathology, carer malaise or caregiver strain between the matched epilepsy and non-epilepsy groups. This study supports the high occurrence and chronicity of epilepsy among people with ID. While psychopathology and carer strain is common within this population, underlying disability-related factors appear to be more important than the presence of epilepsy per se.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, mental health problems, stress, carers, challenging behaviour, epilepsy;
Serious case review of Amy, a woman with learning disabilities, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and known bowel problems, who died aged 52. She lived in a Supported Living scheme, Crane Court, run by Leading Lives. Amy was subject two safeguarding referrals, the first due concerns about supported living staff’s understanding of Amy’s health care needs discharge and the second following her discharge
(Edited publisher abstract)
Serious case review of Amy, a woman with learning disabilities, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and known bowel problems, who died aged 52. She lived in a Supported Living scheme, Crane Court, run by Leading Lives. Amy was subject two safeguarding referrals, the first due concerns about supported living staff’s understanding of Amy’s health care needs discharge and the second following her discharge from hospital which took place without apparent full investigation or consideration of her health problems. Following her discharge from hospital Amy’s condition deteriorated and she died in hospital on 7 May 2013. Recommendations include: named care coordinators for adults with learning disabilities and complex support needs; an annual review of health and social care needs; and ensuring services which are providing care to people with complex support needs have explicit access arrangements with NHS providers such as Community Learning Disability Teams.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
adults, learning disabilities, complex needs, death, health needs, mental health problems, supported living, cerebral palsy, epilepsy;
British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(4), April 2012, pp.282-289.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Evidence is accumulating for partially shared genetics in neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, learning disabilities, autism and epilepsy. The authors examined the risk of intellectual disability and other neuropsychiatric outcomes in 3174 children of mothers with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or unipolar major depression compared with 3129 children of unaffected mothers. developmental disorders, including autism, was significantly elevated for children of mothers with bipolar disorder. Risk of epilepsy was doubled for children of mothers with unipolar depression. The authors believe that their findings provide epidemiological support for clustering in neuropsychiatric disorders, they suggest that larger epidemiological studies are warranted.
Evidence is accumulating for partially shared genetics in neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, learning disabilities, autism and epilepsy. The authors examined the risk of intellectual disability and other neuropsychiatric outcomes in 3174 children of mothers with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or unipolar major depression compared with 3129 children of unaffected mothers. The study used record linkage across Western Australian population-based registers. The contribution of obstetric factors to risk of intellectual disability was also assessed. Children were at significantly increased risk of intellectual disability with odds ratios (ORs) of 3.2, 3.1 and 2.9 in the maternal schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and unipolar depression groups respectively. Multivariate analysis suggested familial and obstetric factors may contribute independently to the risk. Although collectively labour/delivery complications (OR = 1.4) just failed to reach significance, neonatal encephalopathy (OR = 7.7) and foetal distress (OR = 1.8) were independent significant predictors. Rates of rare syndromes in children of mothers with mental disorder were well above population rates. Risk of pervasive developmental disorders, including autism, was significantly elevated for children of mothers with bipolar disorder. Risk of epilepsy was doubled for children of mothers with unipolar depression. The authors believe that their findings provide epidemiological support for clustering in neuropsychiatric disorders, they suggest that larger epidemiological studies are warranted.
... Tourette syndromes; Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases; the areas of Broca and Brodmann; Jackson's epilepsy; and the Gage matrix. These early discoveries in neurology and psychiatry are described in the context of the personal life of the discoverer, showing their aspirations, frustrations, failures and successes. Readers are provided with a better understanding of the societal context of diagnoses,
This book provides an insight into twelve psychiatrists and neurologists whose names have become synonymous with a disease, syndrome, or autistic disorder. The author reconstructs the lives of these individuals to provide an illuminating, and at times touching view into the history of brain research. The case histories include: Asperger, Bonnet, Capgras, Clérambault, Korsakoff and Gilles de la Tourette syndromes; Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases; the areas of Broca and Brodmann; Jackson's epilepsy; and the Gage matrix. These early discoveries in neurology and psychiatry are described in the context of the personal life of the discoverer, showing their aspirations, frustrations, failures and successes. Readers are provided with a better understanding of the societal context of diagnoses, as well as an appreciation of how perspectives on neurological and psychiatric disorders have varied over time.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, Parkinsons disease, psychiatry, social work history, Tourettes Syndrome, Alzheimers disease, diagnosis, epilepsy;