Psychiatric Aspects of Childhood Epilepsy

Childhood epilepsy is a chronic, recurrent disorder of unprovoked seizures. The onset of epilepsy in childhood has significant implications for brain growth and development. Seizures may impair the ongoing neurodevelopmental processes and compromise the child's intellectual and cognitive functioning, leading to tremendous cognitive, behavioral and psychosocial consequences. Children with epilepsy are at increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems. In addition to the direct effects of epilepsy, there are multiple contributory factors including the underlying neurological abnormalities and adverse effects of medication. This review discusses the current understanding of various psychiatric aspects of childhood epilepsy, including the neuropsychological, behavioral and psychosocial concomitants of childhood epilepsy.