Society, Behaviour and Epilepsy

✍ Scribed by Jaya Pinikahana

• Publisher: Nova Science Pub Inc
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 369
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Although clinical, neurological, biological, psychiatric and even therapeutic aspects of epilepsy have been fairly consistently reviewed, relatively little is known about the psycho-social aspects of this condition. The psycho-social consequences of epilepsy are arguably often more severe than the severity of epilepsy. Studies show that social exclusion, fear, anxiety, stress, suicide, unemployment and homelessness among people with epilepsy are higher than the general population. Although there are no viable eclectic theories of bio-psychosocial aspects of epilepsy, there are several current psychological and sociological perspectives of this disorder. This book fills a gap in the literature on the psycho-social context of epilepsy.

✦ Table of Contents

SOCIETY, BEHAVIOUR AND EPILEPSY......Page 5
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 9
About the Contributors......Page 13
Abstract......Page 21
Introduction......Page 22
General Characteristics of the Participants......Page 25
Recognition of Initial Symptoms......Page 26
Techniques to Stop Seizures......Page 27
Predicting and Aborting Seizures......Page 28
Experiences of Warning Signs and Predicting Seizures......Page 29
Experiences of Seizure Precipitants and Triggers......Page 30
Experiences of Self Control Relating to Seizures......Page 31
Differences due to Age, Gender and Seizure Characteristics......Page 32
Limitations......Page 33
References......Page 34
Abstract......Page 37
a. The Need for Accurate Prevalence Data......Page 38
a. Prevalence Data and Official Statistics......Page 39
b. Employment......Page 41
c. The Issue of Self-Reporting......Page 42
Stigmatisation......Page 43
Conclusion......Page 44
References......Page 45
Abstract......Page 49
New Directions......Page 50
Lessons from Cultural Psychiatry......Page 53
Modern Portrayals of Epilepsy: In Literature, Arts and Online......Page 55
Conclusion......Page 58
References......Page 59
Introduction......Page 63
Depression......Page 66
Psychosocial Adjustment......Page 68
Stigma......Page 69
Seizure Frequency......Page 70
Conclusion......Page 72
References......Page 73
Introduction......Page 79
Health Policies Regarding Health Financing and Priorities of Resources......Page 80
The Need for Improved Primary Care Systems in Developing Countries......Page 83
The Role of Affordable, Quality and Consistently Accessible Medicines in Health Care......Page 86
Conclusion......Page 88
References......Page 90
Abstract......Page 93
Introduction......Page 94
Assessing Health Literacy......Page 95
Health Literacy in the United States......Page 96
Factors Associated with Health Literacy......Page 97
2. Intelligence......Page 98
3. Socioeconomic Level......Page 99
4. Cultural Stigma......Page 100
Consequences of Poor Health Literacy in the Epilepsy Population......Page 101
1. Improve Overall Public Health Literacy......Page 102
2. Target Widely-Used Sources of Health Information for Knowledge Dissemination......Page 103
4. Improve the Health Literacy of Family Members and Caregivers......Page 104
5. Use Case Management and Ancillary Services to Cope with Poor Health Literacy......Page 105
References......Page 106
Abstract......Page 113
The Employment Situation for Persons with Epilepsy: International Perspective......Page 114
Barriers to Employment for People with Epilepsy......Page 117
Psychosocial and Demographic Variables......Page 118
Stigma and Employer Attitudes......Page 119
Disclosure of Epilepsy Status in Employment......Page 120
Work Accommodations......Page 122
Disability Employment Law......Page 123
Employment Programs......Page 126
References......Page 127
Introduction......Page 135
Epilepsy Type......Page 136
Threshold for Seizures......Page 137
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)......Page 138
Endocrine Disorders......Page 139
Sexuality......Page 140
Sexuality......Page 141
Gender Differences in Psychosocial Functioning......Page 142
Children with Epilepsy......Page 143
Employment Status and Marital Status......Page 144
Depression and Anxiety......Page 146
Contraception and Pregnancy......Page 147
Information Provision for PWE......Page 150
Ways to Improve the Provision of Information to PWE......Page 151
Conclusion......Page 152
References......Page 153
Abstract......Page 163
Introduction......Page 164
1. Myth, Medicine and Madness......Page 166
2. Medical Colonisation......Page 168
3. Epileptic Ironies......Page 171
Conclusion......Page 177
References......Page 179
Abstract......Page 183
Introduction......Page 184
Parallel Systems of Health Care......Page 185
Beliefs about Epilepsy......Page 187
Making Choices......Page 188
Discussion......Page 189
Conclusion......Page 190
Acknowledgment......Page 191
References......Page 192
Abstract......Page 195
Defining and Operationalizing Adherence Behaviors......Page 196
The Impact of AED Adherence on Health Outcomes......Page 197
Objective Adherence Measurement......Page 200
Subjective Adherence Measurement......Page 203
Predictors of AED Adherence......Page 205
Sociodemographic Factors......Page 206
Medical Predictors......Page 207
Individual and Family Predictors of Adherence......Page 209
Barriers and Facilitators of Adherence......Page 211
Healthcare Predictors of Adherence......Page 212
Adherence Interventions......Page 213
Conclusion......Page 217
References......Page 219
Abstract......Page 227
Introduction......Page 228
Defining Social Competence......Page 229
Deficits in Social Competence......Page 231
Social Competence and Children with Epilepsy......Page 232
Epilepsy Related Factors and Social Competence......Page 233
Neurocognitive Impairments and Social Competence......Page 234
Family Factors and Social Competence......Page 235
Protective Factors for Social Competence......Page 236
Conclusions......Page 238
References......Page 240
Abstract......Page 247
Introduction......Page 248
Prevalence......Page 249
Gender......Page 250
Social Problems and Quality of Life......Page 251
Illness Variables......Page 252
Parents......Page 253
Family Knowledge, Expectations and Attitudes......Page 254
Studies Using Reports......Page 255
Studies Using Direct Observational Methods......Page 256
Integrating Findings about Family Interactions and Psychopathology......Page 257
Intervention Programs for Families......Page 259
Conclusions......Page 260
References......Page 261
Abstract......Page 267
Introduction......Page 268
The Biopsychosocial Model......Page 269
The Perspectives on Depression in Epilepsy......Page 270
Concluding Remarks......Page 273
References......Page 274
Abstract......Page 277
Etiology......Page 278
Symptoms of Depression......Page 279
Outcomes......Page 280
Chronic Disease......Page 281
Symptom Burden......Page 282
Stigma......Page 283
Quality of Life......Page 284
Individual-Level Factors......Page 285
System-Level Factors......Page 286
Addressing Barriers to Diagnosis......Page 287
Provider-Level Factors......Page 288
System-Level Factors......Page 289
Therapy......Page 291
Mindfulness......Page 292
Motivational Interviewing......Page 293
In Person -- Clinic and Home......Page 294
Distance Delivery - Telephone and Internet......Page 295
Summary......Page 296
References......Page 297
Abstract......Page 309
Epilepsy in the Elderly: Frequent but Under-diagnosed......Page 310
Partial Seizures......Page 311
Status Epilepticus......Page 312
Acute Confusional State......Page 313
Loss of Consciousness......Page 314
Sleep Disorders......Page 315
Common Diagnostic Evaluation......Page 316
Psychogenic Features......Page 318
PLEDs......Page 319
Diagnosis of Seizures in Dementia......Page 320
Seizures and Epilepsy in Non Alzheimer Dementia......Page 321
Treatment......Page 322
Pharmacokinetics......Page 323
Compliance......Page 324
Conclusion......Page 325
References......Page 326
Abstract......Page 333
Introduction......Page 334
Reasons for Cam Use in Epilepsy......Page 335
Herbal Medicines......Page 339
Acupuncture......Page 344
Vitamins and Other Dietary Supplements......Page 345
Miscellaneous Therapies (“Other”)......Page 346
References......Page 347
Index......Page 351