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Mental Health and Illness of Children and Adolescents pp 1–18Cite as

Epilepsy

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Part of the book series: Mental Health and Illness Worldwide ((MHIW))

Abstract

This chapter will begin with some general information on epilepsy and stigma worldwide. This will be followed by epidemiological data on psychiatric and behavioral disorders in children. The main psychiatric disorders in childhood epilepsy: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression, and psychosis will be discussed in turn. The psychiatric and behavioral disturbances associated with specific childhood epilepsy syndromes will be presented. The evidence for psychiatric effects of antiseizure medications and epilepsy surgery will be presented and a systematic approach to assessing and managing the child with epilepsy and psychiatric disturbance will be discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to acknowledge, with gratitude, the invaluable help provided by Michael Vasey in the preparation of this chapter.

Much of the material covered in this chapter is based on the 2016 Report of the past Child Neuropsychiatry Taskforce of the International League Against Epilepsy, chaired by the author.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, East London Foundation NHS Trust, Bedford, UK

    Frank M. C. Besag

  2. Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK

    Frank M. C. Besag

  3. School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK

    Frank M. C. Besag

Authors
  1. Frank M. C. Besag
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank M. C. Besag .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. King’s College London, London, UK

    Eric Taylor

  2. Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    F. C. Verhulst

  3. National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    John Wong

  4. Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan

    Keiko Yoshida

  5. King's College London, London, UK

    Anula Nikapota

Section Editor information

  1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK

    Eric Taylor

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Besag, F.M.C. (2020). Epilepsy. In: Taylor, E., Verhulst, F., Wong, J., Yoshida, K., Nikapota, A. (eds) Mental Health and Illness of Children and Adolescents. Mental Health and Illness Worldwide. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0753-8_35-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0753-8_35-1

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